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| | '''Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson''' (born May 16, 1969) is an American political anchor, pundit, and television personality, who formerly hosted political talk show ''Tucker Carlson Tonight'' on the [[Fox News Channel]]. Upon his abrupt termination announced on April 24, 2023,<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-news-media-tucker-carlson-part-ways</ref> Carlson was silent about the [[liberal censorship]] perhaps by agreeing to stay quiet -- which harms the [[conservative movement]] -- in exchange for a large payment by the television network. | | '''Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson''' (born May 16, 1969) is an American political anchor, pundit, and television personality, who formerly hosted political talk show ''Tucker Carlson Tonight'' on the [[Fox News Channel]]. Upon his abrupt termination announced on April 24, 2023,<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-news-media-tucker-carlson-part-ways</ref> Carlson was silent about the [[liberal censorship]] perhaps by agreeing to stay quiet -- which harms the [[conservative movement]] -- in exchange for a large payment by the television network. |
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| − | Tucker Carlson rose to prominence as a leading conservative voice after the fall of figures like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly, gaining popularity during the COVID-19 era for his anti-establishment tone on Fox News. However, his career took a dramatic turn after his 2023 ouster from the network, following workplace controversy and internal tensions after the Dominion lawsuit.
| + | Carslon has stood up to the leftist mob,<ref>Multiple references: |
| − | | + | *Carlson, Tucker (March 12, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-we-will-never-bow-to-the-leftist-mobs-attempts-to-silence-us-no-matter-what Tucker Carlson: We will never bow to the leftist mob's attempts to silence us, no matter what]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 12, 2019. |
| − | Post-''Fox'', Carlson shifted sharply toward fringe and authoritarian-aligned narratives. In 2024, he traveled overseas propagating for other countries not US friendly, drawing widespread criticism. He later began promoting revisionist historians and isolationist rhetoric hostile to traditional U.S. allies.
| + | *Samuels, Brett (March 11, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/433595-tucker-carlson-says-we-will-never-bow-to-the-mob-amid-resurfaced-comments Tucker Carlson says 'we will never bow to the mob' amid resurfaced comments]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved March 11, 2019. |
| − | | + | *Duke, Selwyn (March 13, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/item/31741-lib-kill-machine-targets-tucker-carlson-for-destruction Lib Kill Machine Targets Tucker Carlson for Destruction]. ''The New American''. Retrieved March 14, 2019. |
| − | By 2025, Carlson had aligned himself with Qatar’s state propaganda efforts, giving uncritical platforms to controversial figures with anti-Israel and pro-Islamist views. His rhetoric began echoing that of adversarial regimes like Iran’s, leading even former allies to distance themselves. Once a conservative media star, Carlson is now widely seen as a mouthpiece for regimes hostile to the West and has lost credibility among much of his former base.
| + | See also: |
| − | | + | *Hanson, Victor Davis (August 9, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/456803-why-target-tucker-carlson-its-part-of-the-lefts-war-on-the-right Why target Tucker Carlson? It's part of the left's war on the right]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved August 9, 2019.</ref> and the cost of ads on his show nearly doubled despite left-wing attempts to boycott him.<ref>Gage, John (August 21, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/cost-of-tucker-carlson-tonight-ads-nearly-doubles-despite-boycotts Cost of Tucker Carlson Tonight ads nearly doubles despite boycotts]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved August 21, 2019.</ref> |
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| | ==Early career== | | ==Early career== |
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| | ==Fox News stint== | | ==Fox News stint== |
| | After commentator [[Bill O'Reilly]] resigned from Fox News due to sexual abuse allegations, Carlson replaced him at the 8 p.m. EDT time slot. He also replaced O'Reilly as the number one rated cable TV show for that time slot.<ref>Nussbaum, Daniel (April 25, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/04/25/tucker-carlson-dominates-ratings-first-night-8-p-m-time-slot/ Tucker Carlson Dominates Cable News Ratings in First Night at New Time Slot]. ''[[Breitbart News]]''. Retrieved April 26, 2017.</ref> His ratings were nearly as high as O'Reilly's.<ref>Concha, Joe (April 30, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/385492-carlsons-ratings-on-fox-closing-in-on-oreillys Carlson's ratings on Fox closing in on O'Reilly's]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 30, 2018.</ref> In late March 2019, his show received more viewers than all of [[CNN]]'s primetime hosts combined.<ref>Nolte, John (April 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2019/04/03/nolte-tucker-carlson-beat-all-of-cnns-prime-time-shows-combined/ Nolte: Tucker Carlson Beat All of CNN’s Prime Time Shows … Combined]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 3, 2019.</ref> In summer of 2020, ''Tucker Carlson Tonight'' broke the all-time record for the highest-rated program in U.S. cable news history. | | After commentator [[Bill O'Reilly]] resigned from Fox News due to sexual abuse allegations, Carlson replaced him at the 8 p.m. EDT time slot. He also replaced O'Reilly as the number one rated cable TV show for that time slot.<ref>Nussbaum, Daniel (April 25, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/04/25/tucker-carlson-dominates-ratings-first-night-8-p-m-time-slot/ Tucker Carlson Dominates Cable News Ratings in First Night at New Time Slot]. ''[[Breitbart News]]''. Retrieved April 26, 2017.</ref> His ratings were nearly as high as O'Reilly's.<ref>Concha, Joe (April 30, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/385492-carlsons-ratings-on-fox-closing-in-on-oreillys Carlson's ratings on Fox closing in on O'Reilly's]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 30, 2018.</ref> In late March 2019, his show received more viewers than all of [[CNN]]'s primetime hosts combined.<ref>Nolte, John (April 3, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2019/04/03/nolte-tucker-carlson-beat-all-of-cnns-prime-time-shows-combined/ Nolte: Tucker Carlson Beat All of CNN’s Prime Time Shows … Combined]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 3, 2019.</ref> In summer of 2020, ''Tucker Carlson Tonight'' broke the all-time record for the highest-rated program in U.S. cable news history. |
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| − | Carslon has stood up to the leftist mob,<ref>Multiple references:
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| − | *Carlson, Tucker (March 12, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-we-will-never-bow-to-the-leftist-mobs-attempts-to-silence-us-no-matter-what Tucker Carlson: We will never bow to the leftist mob's attempts to silence us, no matter what]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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| − | *Samuels, Brett (March 11, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/media/433595-tucker-carlson-says-we-will-never-bow-to-the-mob-amid-resurfaced-comments Tucker Carlson says 'we will never bow to the mob' amid resurfaced comments]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
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| − | *Duke, Selwyn (March 13, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/item/31741-lib-kill-machine-targets-tucker-carlson-for-destruction Lib Kill Machine Targets Tucker Carlson for Destruction]. ''The New American''. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
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| − | See also:
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| − | *Hanson, Victor Davis (August 9, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/456803-why-target-tucker-carlson-its-part-of-the-lefts-war-on-the-right Why target Tucker Carlson? It's part of the left's war on the right]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved August 9, 2019.</ref> and the cost of ads on his show nearly doubled despite left-wing attempts to boycott him.<ref>Gage, John (August 21, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/cost-of-tucker-carlson-tonight-ads-nearly-doubles-despite-boycotts Cost of Tucker Carlson Tonight ads nearly doubles despite boycotts]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved August 21, 2019.</ref>
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| | On July 17, 2019, Carlson spoke for nearly an hour at a National Conservatism Conference. He discussed issues such as [[government]] and [[capitalism]]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGoWtK1NnY&t=243s</ref>. | | On July 17, 2019, Carlson spoke for nearly an hour at a National Conservatism Conference. He discussed issues such as [[government]] and [[capitalism]]<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGoWtK1NnY&t=243s</ref>. |
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| | Biden presidential challenger [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]] tweeted the day after Carlson's termination from Fox, | | Biden presidential challenger [[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]] tweeted the day after Carlson's termination from Fox, |
| | {{quotebox-float|"Fox fires TuckerCarlson five days after he crosses the red line by acknowledging that the TV networks pushed a deadly and ineffective vaccine to please their Pharma advertisers. Carlson’s breathtakingly courageous April 19 monologue broke TV’s two biggest rules: Tucker told the truth about how greedy Pharma advertisers controlled TV news content and he lambasted obsequious newscasters for promoting jabs they knew to be lethal and worthless. For many years, Tucker has had the nation's biggest audience averaging 3.5 million — 10 times the size of CNN. Fox just demonstrated the terrifying power of [[Big Pharma]]."<ref>https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1650550341027475479</ref>}} | | {{quotebox-float|"Fox fires TuckerCarlson five days after he crosses the red line by acknowledging that the TV networks pushed a deadly and ineffective vaccine to please their Pharma advertisers. Carlson’s breathtakingly courageous April 19 monologue broke TV’s two biggest rules: Tucker told the truth about how greedy Pharma advertisers controlled TV news content and he lambasted obsequious newscasters for promoting jabs they knew to be lethal and worthless. For many years, Tucker has had the nation's biggest audience averaging 3.5 million — 10 times the size of CNN. Fox just demonstrated the terrifying power of [[Big Pharma]]."<ref>https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1650550341027475479</ref>}} |
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| − | ==Post ''FOX'', Criticism: Tucker Qatarlson: Innocent Not — Mr. “Just Asking Questions”==
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| − | In 2024 and 2025, Carlson drew widespread condemnation for airing uncritical interviews with Holocaust revisionists and Hitler apologists on his show ''Tucker on X''. Critics, including members of Congress, accused him of using rhetorical ambiguity to platform neo-Nazi ideology, sanitize Adolf Hitler, and legitimize historical falsehoods about the [[Holocaust]].
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| − | === Holocaust Revisionism Controversy (2024) ===
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| − | On September 2, 2024, Carlson hosted infamous Darryl Cooper, a self-styled historian and podcaster, who falsely portrayed Winston Churchill as the villain of World War II and framed Adolf Hitler as a misunderstood peace-seeker.<ref name="nyt-sept6">{{cite news |title=Tucker Carlson Criticized for Hosting Holocaust Revisionist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/business/media/tucker-carlson-holocaust-interview-biden-administration.html |date=2024-09-06 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
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| − | The interview triggered swift backlash. The [[White House]] denounced the episode as "Nazi propaganda."<ref name="cnn-sept5">{{cite news |title=White House condemns Tucker Carlson 'Nazi propaganda' interview |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/05/media/white-house-condemns-tucker-carlson-nazi-propaganda-interview |date=2024-09-05 |work=CNN}}</ref> In Congress, Representative [[Ritchie Torres]] (D-NY) introduced [[H. Res. 1543]] — a resolution formally condemning Carlson’s actions for “perpetuating harmful falsehoods, fostering antisemitism, and undermining the fight against hate and bigotry.”<ref name="torres">{{cite web |title=Congressman Ritchie Torres Introduces Resolution Condemning Tucker Carlson |url=https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/congressman-ritchie-torres-introduces-resolution-condemning-tucker-carlsons-interview-of-darryl-cooper |date=2024-10-14}}</ref><ref name="congress">{{cite web |title=H. RES. 1543 |url=https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hres1543/BILLS-118hres1543ih.pdf |date=2024-10-11}}</ref>
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| − | A group of Jewish House Democrats issued a joint statement declaring: “The normalization of Nazism is unacceptable and dangerous, and must be forcefully condemned.”<ref name="axios">{{cite news |title=Jewish House Democrats rebuke Tucker Carlson |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/09/10/jewish-house-democrats-rebuke-tucker-carlson |date=2024-09-10 |work=Axios}}</ref>
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| − | [[Ben Domenech]] wrote in ''The Spectator'' that Carlson’s editorial direction had become indefensible even to longtime allies, sarcastically summarizing Carlson’s revisionism as: “Why don’t we fully appreciate the total bind Adolf Hitler was in?”<ref name="spectator">{{cite news |title=Tucker Carlson is just asking questions |url=https://thespectator.com/politics/tucker-carlson-just-asking-questions-martyrmade-world-war-two/ |date=2024-09-04 |work=The Spectator}}</ref>
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| − | === Doubling Down: The 2025 World War II Segment ===
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| − | In August 2025, Carlson aired another controversial segment — this time with [[Dave Collum]], a Cornell chemistry professor and conspiracy theorist, who questioned the legitimacy of the Allied stance in WWII and implied that aligning with Nazi Germany against Stalin might have prevented the Holocaust.<ref name="nr-lowry">{{cite news |title=Should We Have Allied With Hitler? |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/should-we-have-allied-with-hitler/ |date=2025-08-25 |author=Rich Lowry |work=National Review}}</ref>
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| − | Carlson nodded in agreement as Collum declared, “I think the story we got about World War II was all wrong,” and added: “I think that’s right.” No objections were raised when Collum claimed, “One can make the argument we should have sided with Hitler.”<ref name="mediaite">{{cite news |title=National Review’s Rich Lowry Ruthlessly Mocks Tucker Carlson |url=https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/national-reviews-rich-lowry-ruthlessly-mocks-tucker-carlson-for-out-tuckering-himself-with-fresh-hitler-apologia/ |date=2025-08-25 |author=Isaac Schorr |work=Mediaite}}</ref>
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| − | The episode was condemned by mainstream conservative voices. Lowry wrote that Carlson had “out-Tuckered himself,” turning his show into a platform for “ignorance and perversity masquerading as brave truth-telling.”<ref name="nr-lowry" />
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| − | === Activists, Commentary ===
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| − | The think tank Tikvah Fund published a scathing piece on Carlson’s choice of guests, identifying a “demonic impulse” behind his platforming of Holocaust denial and his rebranding of Nazi sympathizers as misunderstood dissidents.<ref name="tikvah">{{cite web |title=The Demonic Impulse Behind Tucker Carlson's Holocaust Denier |url=https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/politics-current-affairs/2024/11/the-demonic-impulse-behind-tucker-carlsons-holocaust-denier/ |date=2024-11-12 |work=Mosaic Magazine}}</ref>
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| − | === Mocked ===
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| − | After known for his role in mainstreaming conspiracy theories, historical revisionism, and antisemitic tropes under the guise of "just asking questions." His nickname, “Qatarlson,” emerged in critical media coverage to highlight his increasingly favorable coverage of Gulf monarchies such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, despite their documented human rights abuses and ties to terrorism.
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| − | Memes mocking "QATARlson" have exploded online, branding Tucker Carlson as nothing more than a shameless Qatar shill. Even Donald Trump, once an ally, publicly dismissed him as “Kooky Carlson,” sarcastically remarking that even he should know Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. The nickname has stuck—not just for its humor, but because it captures Carlson’s rapid descent into absurdity and his reckless parroting of talking points from regimes openly hostile to the West.
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| − | === Selective Platforming of Israelophobe Voices ===
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| − | In addition to his Holocaust revisionism, Carlson has been accused of platforming inflammatory anti-Israel voices, often without journalistic skepticism.
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| − | In December 2024, Carlson hosted [[IslamoChristian]] Munther Isaac, an anti-Zionist racist Arab P Palestinian pastoril. Isaac, whose sermons often conflate Jewish self-determination and survival with negative and harsh accusations.
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| − | Watchdog groups criticized Carlson for amplifying Isaac’s inflammatory rhetoric without challenge, particularly amid rising [[antisemitic]] attacks globally.
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| − | In 2025, Carlson interviewed a former Church of the Nativity spokesperson involved in the [[2002 siege of Bethlehem]], during which armed Arab Palestinian militants occupied the church under Arafat. The guest, presented by Carlson as a “Christian peace advocate,” had previously propagated false narratives that Israeli forces had attacked the church — a claim repeatedly disproven by journalists and Vatican sources at the time. Carlson made no mention of the armed standoff or the militants’ use of the church as a human shield, omitting critical context.
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| − | Analysts pointed out that Carlson's choice to host these individuals aligned with his broader pattern of indulging fringe anti-Israel figures while avoiding voices from the mainstream Jewish community.
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| − | === Gulf Influence and [[9/11]] Deflection ===
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| − | In parallel with his historical revisionism, Carlson has developed close ties with Gulf monarchies, particularly Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Critics noted his pivot away from blaming the Saudis for the 9/11 attacks, despite mounting evidence of Saudi government links to the hijackers.
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| − | In August 2025, a lawsuit by 9/11 victims’ families revealed FBI efforts to cover up a video showing Saudi agent Omar Al-Bayoumi filming landmarks in Washington, D.C., prior to the attacks.<ref name="frontpage">{{cite web |title=FBI Helped Cover Up Saudi Role in 9/11 |url=https://www.frontpagemag.com/fbi-helped-cover-up-saudi-role-in-9-11/ |date=2025-08-29 |author=Daniel Greenfield |work=FrontPage Magazine}}</ref> Carlson, who promoted Saudi Arabia’s “visionary future” during a business summit, simultaneously prepared a 9/11 documentary that avoided implicating the Saudis.
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| − | > “What kind of person thinks that a medieval kingdom where they have slaves is ‘what the future holds’?” asked Greenfield, accusing Carlson of using “truth-seeking” rhetoric to divert attention from Islamic extremism.<ref name="frontpage" />
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| − | Carlson’s coziness with Qatar — a regime notorious for bankrolling Islamist terror groups like Hamas and for hosting jihadist propagandists on Al Jazeera — has led to accusations that he’s become a mouthpiece for foreign [[Islam]]ic lobbying. From paid appearances at Gulf real estate forums to repeated soft-focus coverage of Qatar’s role in the region, Carlson’s critics argue that he's effectively selling out conservative values and turning a blind eye to Islamist extremis
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| − | He interviewed Qatar and Iran leaders only to promote their views, without pushback
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| − | === Reception and Legacy ===
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| − | Carlson’s trajectory has alienated many former allies and exposed a growing alignment between far-right populism and historical revisionism. Critics argue that his "just asking questions" mantra functions as a rhetorical shield for promoting antisemitic, fascist-adjacent ideas.
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| − | Commentators have pointed out that Carlson’s framing often allows dangerous ideas to spread while evading responsibility. As one opinion piece in ''The New York Times'' concluded:
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| − | > “Sometimes it is extremely disappointing to have your worst instincts about a person rewarded.”<ref name="nyt-opinion">{{cite news |title=Opinion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/opinion/tucker-carlson-holocaust-denial.html |date=2024-09-06 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
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| − | No wonder Carlson’s defenders in Congress were limited to the fringe of the (2) GOP, while even many figures within the pro-MAGA base distanced themselves from him — particularly regarding his positions on Iran and Gaza, which recent surveys show are increasingly out of step with both American conservatives and broad bipartisan support for Israel.<ref name="WaPo-MAGA-Israel">
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| − | {{cite news
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| − | |title=MAGA Voters Reject Isolationism on Iran, Israel, and China
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| − | |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/06/22/maga-rejecting-isolationism-iran-china-polling/
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| − | |work=The Washington Post
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| − | |date=2025-06-22
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| − | |author=Henry Olsen
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| − | |quote=86% of MAGA Republicans said they believe Israel's security is vital to U.S. interests, and 81% favor continued or increased military support for Israel in the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. 64% also back airstrikes against Iranian nuclear targets.
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| − | </ref><ref name="ChicagoCouncil-IsraelAid">
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| − | {{cite web
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| − | |title=Americans Grow More Divided on U.S. Support for Israel
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| − | |url=https://globalaffairs.org/research/public-opinion-survey/americans-grow-more-divided-us-support-israel
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| − | |website=Chicago Council on Global Affairs
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| − | |date=2025-05-17
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| − | |access-date=2025-09-01
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| − | |author=Craig Kafura
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| − | |quote=76% of Republicans support continued U.S. aid to Israel until all hostages are returned; 72% favor maintaining aid until Hamas is dismantled.
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| − | </ref>
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |