Carlson accused of stoking antisemitic conspiracy at Charlie Kirk memorial
Jewish groups condemn remarks linking Kirk's death to antisemitic tropes; critics say the rhetoric echoes blood libel and invokes modern Israel.
Tucker Carlson's remarks at the memorial for Charlie Kirk on Sunday drew swift condemnation from Jewish groups and Israeli figures who said he invoked antisemitic conspiracy theories about Kirk's death. The conservative commentator, addressing a large crowd at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, described a hypothetical scene in which powerful figures plotted to silence a truth-teller, tying it to Kirk's death and the crucifixion of Jesus.
Carlson opened by drawing a parallel to biblical times, saying that in Jerusalem two thousand years ago Jesus confronted those in power and faced an effort to silence him. He described how critics "hate it" and want him stopped, eliciting laughter in the crowd. He then painted a lamp-lit room scene in which people were "sitting around eating hummus" and plotting how to deal with someone telling the truth about them, adding that "one guy with the bright idea" might suggest "let's kill him." He concluded that "it doesn’t work that way."
Those remarks drew immediate condemnation from Jewish groups and Israeli figures, who accused him of evoking medieval blood-libel conspiracies about Jews being responsible for Christ's death. The comments also drew attention in international outlets and on social media, including amplification by Palestinian media.
In the days after the memorial, social-media responses highlighted questions about the boundaries between political rhetoric and antisemitism. Eylon Levy, a former Israeli government spokesman, wrote on X that Carlson's remarks were "Complete with a laugh like a cartoon villain, Tucker Carlson uses Charlie Kirk’s funeral to spread antisemitic blood libels." Infowars host Adam King likewise criticized Carlson for "pushing an antisemitic trope, painting the Pharisees as 'sitting around eating hummus' plotting Christ’s crucifixion — then comparing it to people supposedly silencing Charlie Kirk by killing him, as if Jews killed Kirk the way they killed Christ." Compact Magazine editor Matthew Schmitz also weighed in, posting: "There was a time when Tucker was known for debating. Now he’s known for dog whistles, blaming everything on Jews, heaping praise on fake-historian Hitler apologists..." The remarks drew coverage from international outlets and were amplified by Palestinian media networks.
Palestinian outlet the Quds News Network amplified Carlson's speech, posting a summary that framed his remarks as implying Israeli involvement in Kirk's death during TPUSA's memorial for its late founder. The notes from observers and commentators emphasized a broader pattern of rhetoric that critics say can fuel antisemitic tropes in political discourse. Among American voices, Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes were noted as among those amplifying the theory that Israel was responsible for Kirk's assassination.
Representatives for Carlson did not respond to requests for comment.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and a number of other senior Republicans spoke on the same stage as Carlson during Sunday’s event. Among the Jewish speakers at the memorial were Stephen Miller and Laura Loomer.
The memorial, held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, drew hundreds of supporters and underscored ongoing tensions over how public figures discuss Israel, antisemitism, and political violence. Critics argued that the line Carlson drew—intimately linking Kirk’s death to biblical-era plots and contemporary Jewish identities—risks normalizing antisemitic blood libel tropes and could fuel misperceptions about Jewish people and political opponents.
This episode comes amid a broader national conversation about the boundaries of political rhetoric and its impact on minority communities. Jewish groups, advocacy organizations, and some scholars have warned that narration of conspiratorial plots against outspoken figures can cross into dehumanizing stereotypes that endanger Jewish communities. Others in the right-leaning media sphere argued that criticizing powerful interests and revealing perceived vendettas should remain within the realm of political critique, not silence.
As the public debate continues, observers say the incident reflects a polarized climate in which memorials tied to political figures can become flashpoints for broader fights over antisemitism, foreign involvement in U.S. politics, and the responsibilities of public figures when addressing tragedies or controversial statements.
