5 months Ago
Fast forward to 2025, and Cruz has just made an appearance on Carlson's independent platform and the roles are reversed. This time, it wasn't forgiveness that Cruz was repenting—he was pushing back. Carlson assails Trump-aligned foreign policy, particularly Israeli strikes on Iran, as Cruz tried to paint the former Fox anchor as a dangerous outlier.
Battles Over Israel, Iran and Antisemitism
During their charged two-hour conversation, U.S. support for Israel and Carlson's increasing scepticism of interventionist policies dominated the discussion. Pressed by Carlson about the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which Carlson derided as a "foreign lobby," Cruz argued that Aipac speaks for the American people. Cruz countered with allegations that Carlson was peddling an antisemitic story.
"You're questioning, why Jews run our foreign policy. That's what you just asked," Cruz said. Carlson denied the charge, looking irritated. "Shame on you for implying otherwise," was his return volley.
The face-off highlighted an increasing unease among conservatives about Carlson's remarks. Though he has a history of taking contrarian positions on foreign policy, his recent posturing on Iran — and past expressions of support for a Holocaust revisionist — has pushed him further to the fringe in the view of many Republicans.
A Wider GOP Campaign Against Carlson
Cruz then went after Carlson on Iran, noting the charges that Tehran had planned to assassinate Trump. When Carlson questioned it, Cruz taunted him: "Did we land on the moon? Was 9/11 an inside job?"
They fought, too, over Russia. Carlson refused to call Vladimir Putin an enemy, reiterating his assertion that provoking Russia does not benefit America. Cruz mocked Carlson's much-mocked video from a Russian grocery store, dismissing it as "a promo video for Russia."
Both men attempted to stand their ground, even after the contentious exchange. Cruz distributed various clips of the interview afterwards, accusing Carlson of defending Trump's enemies and the leadership of Russia. The Senate Republican Conference circulated some of those posts — indicating a coordinated GOP effort to marginalize Carlson politically.
A Dramatic Reversal of Influence
The appeasement that once characterized the relationship has grown confrontational. That Cruz is willing to directly take on Carlson is a sign of how some Republicans, at least, have begun to reassess the once-untouchable power of MAGA media voices. Now that Carlson is an albatross — on iran Israel — the likes of Cruz are entering the ring to stake out a line, which has exposed the fissures within Trump-era conservatism.
