Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson shared audacious financial advice during a joint episode of his show and hacker Ryan Montgomery's show on Monday. What began as a discussion about digital security and a mega-data breach turned into a rant against predatory money lenders, with Carlson urging people to stop paying their credit card balances.
Carlson's Personal Debt Philosophy
Explaining why he personally refuses to carry any debt, Carlson said, "I think in my business where you like make people mad, if you have debt, boy, they you know, they go after it." He acknowledged his privileged position of not owing anyone anything. His guest, Montgomery, said he follows a "don't spend money you don't have" philosophy, but Carlson disagreed.
"I used to feel that way. Now I'm kind of like, I don't know," Carlson said. "I think people should stop paying their credit cards. I know no one else agrees with me, and 'Oh, you have a moral obligation.' Really?"
Criticism of Credit Card Companies
Describing credit cards as predatory and unethical, Carlson argued, "Well, you have a moral obligation not to send credit card applications to college kids. So this goes both ways." He compared the situation to drug addiction: "It's like just blaming the drug addict and never mentioning the dealer. Someone's selling the fentanyl and that person is on the hook, too. So, like, is it a sin to rip off your drug dealer? I guess it's not one I'm going to judge you for."
Credit Card Debt Statistics
According to TransUnion, the average American holds about $6,715 in credit card debt. Across the U.S., that debt totaled $1.28 trillion at the end of 2025, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Carlson's advice to stop paying would likely lead to late fees, higher interest, and plummeting credit scores. If payments are avoided long enough, the debt is sent to a collection agency, which can sue to garnish wages or withdraw from bank accounts.
Past Experience with Lenders
Carlson recalled giving a speech to payday loan lenders over two decades ago, calling them "the sleaziest group of people I've ever met in my life." Montgomery agreed, saying, "I have no doubt, I don't know how they sleep at night."
