Tucker Carlson’s anti-Zionism shows horseshoe theory nearing a circle

Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, has showcased an evolving and increasingly unusual alignment on issues related to Israel, engaging in conversations with figures across the political spectrum and adopting arguments from both the left and the right.

Carlson’s Shifting Positions

In December, Carlson hosted Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinians, on his show. The two, representing opposing political viewpoints, found common ground, with Carlson largely deferring to Albanese’s explanations of the conflict. Carlson stated, “The idea that they’ve killed tens of thousands of women and children, non-combatants, accidentally, is a lie. No, they murdered them.”

Last week, Carlson interviewed US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, challenging his justifications for Israel’s existence and utilizing arguments commonly found on the left, including disputing Jewish indigeneity in Israel. Carlson questioned, “The current prime minister’s ancestors weren’t from here… Netanyahu… his family’s from Poland. They’re from Eastern Europe.”

This shift highlights what is known as the horseshoe theory of politics, which suggests that the far ends of the political spectrum can converge, particularly regarding Israel and Jewish issues. Former US antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt has described this as the far left and far right being “closer to one another on the issue of antisemitism than they are to the center.” Lipstadt further explained that adherence to conspiratorial worldviews, anti-hierarchical aggression, and a preference for authoritarianism can describe individuals at either end of the spectrum, potentially leading to shared antisemitic views.

Historical Context and Current Trends

Historically, the left and right held opposing views on Jewish people – Karl Marx framing Jews as capitalists and the US right viewing them as communists. Today, the far right often sees Jews as facilitating immigration, while the far left views them as invaders in the Middle East. The start of the Gaza war has coincided with a new wave of discrimination against Jews as anti-Zionism has become more prevalent in US institutions.

Some scholars argue that anti-Zionism represents a third iteration of discrimination against Jews, following anti-Judaism (religious) and antisemitism (racial). Carlson appears to be moving into this third category, utilizing related tropes with a right-wing perspective.

The US anti-Israel movement is comprised of the far right, the far left, and pro-Palestinian groups, all of which blur the lines between legitimate political rhetoric and discrimination. There is also disagreement over the definition of Zionism itself.

Carlson’s Interviews and Rhetoric

In the past year, Carlson has interviewed figures such as Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s, commentator Cenk Uygur, journalist Glenn Greenwald, Holocaust denier Darryl Cooper, white supremacist Nick Fuentes, and conspiracist Ian Carroll. While Carlson has given these figures airtime and has leaned into antisemitism and white nationalism in the past, his recent statements more closely resemble leftist anti-Zionism.

Both Carlson and the left accuse Israel of collective punishment, targeting journalists in Gaza, disputing the historical connection between Biblical Jews and modern Israelis, and criticizing “Greater Israel” land claims, as well as focusing on AIPAC and US aid to Israel. Carlson’s suggestion that Israeli Jews undergo genetic testing to prove their connection to the land echoes the anti-Zionist Khazar hypothesis.

Both sides also express sympathy for traditional enemies of the West and share opposition to strikes against Iran. Carlson’s defense of Qatar mirrored points made by CodePink. Anti-Israel rhetoric surrounding the Epstein files was also similar on both the far left and far right.

Both sides also tend to dismiss antisemitism accusations as bad-faith attempts to protect Israel. Former US Rep. Matt Gaetz stated on Carlson’s show, “Antisemitism used to mean somebody who didn’t like Jews. Now it just means somebody Jews don’t like.”

Carlson’s interview with Huckabee received praise from leftist media figures and reporters, who did not mention his factual inaccuracies. Islamist anti-Zionist activists have also shared clips of the interview on social media.

While Carlson does not explicitly call for Israel’s destruction, his propagation of anti-Zionist arguments, such as portraying Israelis as European implants, aligns him with that camp, according to critics. “He’s delegitimizing Israeli identity by saying, ‘Israelis are not really from there,’” one critic stated.

The convergence of these viewpoints, while not a perfect circle, indicates a growing prevalence of anti-Zionist frameworks across the political spectrum, from street protests to media spheres and Republican party leadership. Carlson recently visited the White House, signaling his increasing influence.