Senator Ted Cruz has publicly accused some of his Republican colleagues of being too frightened to join him in condemning Tucker Carlson's controversial interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The Texas Republican made these remarks during his appearance at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention in Washington, D.C. on Friday.
Republican Silence on Carlson-Fuentes Interview
Cruz revealed that while many Republican senators privately share his concerns about Carlson's platforming of Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, they remain hesitant to speak out publicly. The influential conservative voice warned that his colleagues fear Carlson's substantial media reach and potential backlash.
"It's easy right now to denounce Nick Fuentes. That's kind of safe. Are you willing to say Tucker's name?" Cruz challenged the audience. He continued, "Now I can tell you, my colleagues, almost to a person, think what is happening is horrifying. But a great many of them are frightened because he has one hell of a big megaphone."
Cruz's Specific Criticism of Interview Conduct
The senator clarified that his objection wasn't primarily about Carlson providing a platform to Fuentes, but rather about the interviewer's failure to challenge his guest's extreme views. Cruz emphasized Carlson's known ability to conduct tough interviews, making the lack of pushback particularly concerning.
"The last I checked, Tucker actually knows how to cross-examine someone," Cruz stated. "If you want to cross-examine and challenge him, that's fine. But he didn't. He fawningly gazed at him, including when Mr. Fuentes said he loved Stalin and he celebrated Joseph Stalin's birthday every year."
Carlson's minimal response to Fuentes' admiration for Stalin consisted only of saying he'd "circle back to that" - a promise he never fulfilled during the interview.
Growing Conservative Backlash
Cruz began speaking out against Carlson's Fuentes interview last week, delivering some of his strongest criticism to date. "If you sit there with someone who says Adolf Hitler was very, very cool, and that their mission is to combat and defeat global Jewry, and you say nothing, then you are a coward and you are complicit in that evil," the senator declared.
The Texas Republican isn't alone in his condemnation. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell joined the criticism, targeting the Heritage Foundation for refusing to distance itself from Carlson following the controversial interview.
McConnell wrote on social media: "The 'intellectual backbone of the conservative movement' is only as strong as the values it defends. Last I checked, 'conservatives should feel no obligation' to carry water for antisemites and apologists for America-hating autocrats."
Carlson's media influence remains substantial despite his 2023 departure from Fox News. His YouTube channel regularly attracts millions of viewers, and Apple recently revealed his podcast was the platform's most popular new offering in 2024.
