Jun 19, 2025
In a recently released interview, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) strongly defended AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) against accusations that it acts as a foreign agent for Israel. The exchange occurred during a tense back-and-forth with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who challenged Cruz on his hawkish stance toward Iran and questioned the extent of Israel’s influence on U.S. foreign policy. Carlson suggested that AIPAC operates under the direction of the Israeli government and accused Cruz of echoing AIPAC’s messaging. In response, Cruz rejected the notion that AIPAC is a foreign agent and pointed out that it is an American-run organization that operates legally and independently under U.S. law. Cruz also accused Carlson of using antisemitic tropes by implying undue Jewish influence on American politics.
The debate exposed a growing ideological rift within the conservative movement, particularly between nationalist isolationists like Carlson and more traditionally pro-Israel Republicans like Cruz. Carlson, a vocal critic of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, argued that the U.S. should avoid entanglement in what he views as a proxy war and warned that Israel’s military actions could drag America into a broader regional conflict. The clash reached a boiling point when Cruz accused Carlson of being obsessed with Israel and flirting with antisemitism, prompting Carlson to mock the accusation. This heated interview comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and an intensifying debate within conservative circles over the future of American foreign policy and support for Israel.
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SOURCE: The Algemeiner