The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued a fierce condemnation following a meeting between former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump at the White House, an event that has exposed a growing internal rift over antisemitism within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
A Controversial Oval Office Gathering
Images shared on Friday by Carlson's own media network showed the controversial broadcaster beaming in the Oval Office, engaged in a friendly conversation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also present at the meeting was White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who was seen speaking to another individual.
The ADL, a non-profit dedicated to combating antisemitism, responded swiftly and scathingly on social media platform X. The organisation wrote: 'Tucker Carlson should have no place in the White House. He's amplified and platformed antisemitic narratives for years.'
Internal MAGA Warfare Erupts
The issue of providing a platform to antisemites has become a major point of contention among Trump's supporters. Carlson faced significant backlash from fellow conservatives after hosting firebrand commentator Nick Fuentes on his show. Leading the outrage was Fox News broadcaster Mark Levin, who branded Carlson a 'Nazi promoter' for the Fuentes interview.
In response to Carlson's White House invitation, podcaster and former Fox personality Megyn Kelly mocked Levin, suggesting the social media posts of the meeting would give him 'an aneurysm.' Kelly, whose disagreements with Levin date back to their time working together, has recently criticised him for attacking other MAGA influencers as the movement shows signs of splintering.
Levin has positioned himself as a leading voice advocating for more aggressive US military action abroad, particularly against Iran, a stance that puts him at odds with anti-interventionist figures like Carlson. The conflict turned personal when Levin called Carlson a 'schmuck' for his comments about a Trump-era Middle East envoy, adding in a fiery message: 'But don’t screw with me, you little bastard, by twisting my words.'
Defences and Further Denunciations
While Kelly and, seemingly, Trump have shown support for Carlson, other prominent MAGA figures have sought to ostracise him. At December's Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference, right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro launched a direct attack. 'If you host a Hitler apologist, Nazi-loving, anti-American piece of refuse like Nick Fuentes… you ought to own it,' Shapiro declared.
He also labelled Kelly, Candace Owens, and Steve Bannon as 'frauds' and 'grifters.' Carlson, who spoke later at the same event, returned fire by branding Shapiro 'pompous' and arguing against forced 'ritual denunciations.'
Trump himself has remained elusive on the internal MAGA civil war. While telling the New York Times last week that extremists like Fuentes should not be welcomed into the movement—citing his Jewish daughter and grandchildren—he brushed off his own 2022 dinner with Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, condemning that dinner during a recent synagogue appearance, praised Levin and Shapiro for 'pushing back' on antisemitic beliefs, while calling Owens and Carlson 'disgusting.' The activist group StopAntisemitism named Carlson its Antisemite of the Year in 2023, with Owens receiving the title for 2024.
The fissures extend to other issues, including conspiracy theories peddled by Owens about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which Shapiro condemned as 'hideous and conspiratorial nonsense.' The Daily Mail has contacted the White House for further information regarding Carlson's meeting with the President.
