LOS ANGELES (OC).–Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.), 54. a potential 2028 GOP presidential candidate, ripped 56-year-old former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for interviewing self-described neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes Oct. 31. Carlson interviewed Putin Feb. 8, 2024, receiving nothing but flack because he was too easy on Putin, refusing to confront him on Ukraine or Russia’s future plans in the European theater. Tucker explained at the time that what good would it be to put Putin on the defensive when his preference is to just let him talk. When it came to his interview with neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, Tucker felt the exact same way: Let the man talk. Cruz called Tucker “bat-crap crazy” and “complicit with evil,” giving Fuentes a stage from which to spew his twisted ideas about race and ethnic relations. Tucker found Cruz’s remarks “hilarious,” telling Cruz “good luck. That’s my comment and heartfelt view,” Tucker said.
Cruz’s criticism of Carlson hopes to splinter the MAGA movement, where President Donald Trump takes a more lassez faire approach to Tucker’s Fuentes’ interview. Fake news likes when there’s GOP infighting, this time fabricated to highlight divisions within the MAGA crowd. Cruz has been making headlines with the Tucker interview, much the same way as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, as he seeks any opportunity to slam Trump on any of his foreign and domestic policies. Just like Newsom, Cruz thinks he can take on the big names in the GOP and get some national attention before the 2026 Midterms, certainly before the 2028 presidential race. Newsom’s strategy is grabbing as many headlines slamming Trump before the 2026 Midterm elections. Cruz now steps into limelight, picking on Tucker Carlson who commands a big GOP audience.
Cruz disagrees with the MAGA approach to foreign policy that stays out of foreign wars. Once a big backer of the Iraq War, Cruz took a hard line on Iraq’s former dictator Saddam Hussein, backing the Bush-Cheney foreign policy. Trump won a lot of backer debating former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush who backed his brother, George’s, aggressive foreign policy. Trum said Bush-43’s policy was a colossal waste to the U.S. Treasury, when Saddam Hussein had no weapons of of mass destruction. Cruz presents himself differently from Trump who opposed former President Joe Biden’s proxy war with Russia. Trump saw the policy of destroying U.S.-Russian relations, something he vowed to stop. Cruz comes from an interventionist foreign policy, unlike Trump. Trump vowed to keep the U.S. out of more costly foreign wars that strain the U.S. Treasury.
Going after Tucker Carlson could easily backfire in Cruz, not known for the same charisma possessed by Tucker. Tucker’s foreign policy aligns with Trump, to keep the U.S. out of unnecessary foreign wars, especially Biden’s proxy war with Russia. Trump has tried to end the Ukraine War but can’t get either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to buy into his peace plan. With all the work Trump put into peacemaking, it proves his point about the difficulty of ending foreign wars. Carlson agrees with Trump’s foreign policy but would like him to stop using the Pentagon to attack Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean suspected of narco-terrorism. Carlson likes Trump’s border policy but doesn’t like the White House killing sailors on the high seas. Cruz, for his part, wants a more aggressive anti-communist foreign policy.
Trump antagonized the fake news today meeting with Saud Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accused by the U.S. press of murdering Washington Post columnist.com Jamal Khashoggi Oct. 2, 2018. Trump said today, while working out a potentially trillion dollar deal involving energy, technology and U.S. fighter jets, that Bin Salman knew nothing about Khashoggi’s assassination in Istanbul. Trump lets business do the talking, rather than pandering to calls for human rights. When Trump was asked about Carlson’s Oct. 31 interview with Nick Fuentes, Trump said you can’t stop journalists from doing their jobs. “I mean, if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out, let him. You know, people have to decide. Ultimately, people have to decide,” Trump said, backing Carlson’s right to interview Fuentes.
Cruz looks to build a war chest for his eventual presidential run, pandering to the pro-Israel lobby that has only contempt to neo-Nazis like Nick Fuentes. Vice President J.D. Vance is considered three years out from the 2028 election the GOP frontrunner. Cruz wants to make up ground presenting him as the pro-Israel candidate. But it’s difficult, regardless of Tucker’s interview, to knock Trump and Vance’s credentials on Israel. Trump gave Israeli Prime Minister all the support he needed in going after Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities earlier in the year. Trump’s intervention was considered a booming success, except by Democrats and the fake news. But anyone that witnessed the U.S. mission in Iran knows that Trump has Israel’s back. Cruz can slam Carlson all he wants but it’s difficult for him to make a case against the White House’s support for Israel.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
