Tucker Carlson, appearing alongside Megyn Kelly at a SiriusXM live event at the Westchester County Center, in White Plains, New York, dismissed criticism of his recent interview with right-wing commentator Nick Fuentes, telling detractors to "buzz off" as he defended his right to host provocative guests. He slammed Jewish neoconservatives like commentator Ben Shapiro and Florida Congressman Randy Fine, accusing them of being "shills" for Israel, arguing their criticism was unpatriotic.
Carlson, who has been a central figure in a recent conservative media firestorm, defended his decision to interview Fuentes, saying he views Fuentes as the most influential commentator among young men, with millions of supporters.
The popular journalist dismissed criticism from figures like Congressman Fine, who labeled him "the most dangerous antisemite in America," and Shapiro, whom he accused of "shilling for Israel" and being too extreme for his "tiny brain" to process.
“Nick Fuentes has said a long list of very vile things,” Kelly said, mentioning the interview that has sparked a civil war within MAGA.
“Big time, including attacking my dad, which was the most vile of all, in my opinion,” Carlson added.
“Yeah. I mean, I personally have watched videos of him questioning the Holocaust, likening it to baking cookies in the oven. ‘And there’s no way you could have gotten to six million’ seems to be his theory. He seems to think that we’ve way overstated the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. He’s ripped on poor Usha Vance in the most offensive terms. I mean, so what do you say to those people who say, ‘Why didn’t you raise any of that?’” Kelly asked.
“You know, do your own interview the way that you want to do it. You’re not my editor. Buzz off. I mean, I don’t know. You want to go yell at Nick Fuentes? I’ll give you his cell. Call him and go sit and yell at him and feel virtuous or whatever,” Carlson replied, adding:
"That’s up to you. I got the same thing with Putin. 'Why aren’t you yelling at him?' Okay, why? So I can show that I’m a good person? I care about what my wife thinks, my children think, and God thinks. And that’s it. I don’t need to prove that I am a good person to you! You may think I’m a terrible person. Okay, I’m just doing my thing, which is I want to understand what people think. And I’m committed to that. And if you don’t like it, don’t watch. That’s my view."
The event, part of Kelly's nationwide live podcast tour, highlighted the duo's shift to independent media after leaving Fox News, with Kelly emphasizing their newfound freedom from corporate constraints.
Kelly, who has also faced criticism for past controversies, including her 2018 defense of blackface, used the platform to draw parallels between her own past backlash and Carlson’s current situation, stating, "I was a racist in literally every newspaper in the country."
The controversy surrounding Carlson’s interview with Fuentes continues to ripple through conservative circles, with prominent pro-Israel figures facing backlash for their effort to 'cancel' Carlson and by extension, his friend Vice President JD Vance who are beloved on the American right.
