Israel’s ambassador to the United States sharply criticized Tucker Carlson on Friday, describing the former Fox News host’s recent antisemitic comments as “bordering on pornography.”
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter condemned Carlson’s statements as “nonsense.” The anchor recently alleged that former President Trump was succumbing to pressures from the Jewish State.
“It’s absurd to suggest that Netanyahu is manipulating President Trump,” Leiter remarked. “Such claims are distasteful to the point of being pornographic. They are utterly repugnant.”
Leiter further commented, “This perpetuates an ancient antisemitic stereotype that Jews are in control. The notion is not only insulting to the president but also deeply offensive to both the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”
Carlson has a history of accusing American officials of placing Israel’s interests above those of the United States.
In a recent high-profile interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Carlson suggested that Trump was considering military action against Iran under Israeli influence—a claim that Huckabee dismissed as “offensive.”
Leiter also denied the accusation, saying the US alone was making the decision to strike Iran or not — and said that the Jewish State is simply a “model ally” to America.
While Israel could benefit from US strikes on Iran, Israel is not pushing Trump in that direction as Carlson implied, according to the ambassador.
Leiter also wouldn’t say whether Israel would play a role in any US strikes on Iran, saying the Jewish State would “have to see how it plays out.“
“I really hope that he’s as stupid as he appears. I really hope so. Because if he’s not stupid, then he’s obviously being funded by somebody. So I prefer that he be stupid rather than be fully corrupt,” said Leiter.
“He is being terribly insulting to the president of the United States, the vice president of the United States, and this administration to the American people and he’s being downright antisemitic to the Jews of this country,” Leiter continued.
“We have a right to express our opinion … Why, if we come and express our opinion and express our needs, when we talk about an existential threat on the part of Iran, we’re suddenly dragging the United States into something that it doesn’t want to do? We don’t do that. We come as self-respecting individuals, present our case, and the United States decides what suits what’s in its best interest.”
Leiter pointed to Carlson as one of the many propagandists — including the New York Times and the BBC — who are smearing “blood libel” on Israel by painting the country as genocidal.
The ambassador said he felt “positive” that peace talks were moving in the right direction, and believed Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit Monday will center on the latest developments.
Huckabee urged his staff Friday to flee the Jewish State as speculation boosts that the US might strike Iran.
A weekend strike would align with Trump’s rough 10-day deadline for Iran to make a deal, which hits Sunday. Trump also has floated a 10-15-day timeframe, which could suggest the following weekend is more likely.
US and Iranian negotiators left Oman-mediated talks in Geneva without a deal Thursday, but with plans for a follow-up summit Monday in Vienna to discuss Trump’s demands for the theocratic government to abandon its nuclear program.
