Tucker Carlson accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of boasting about controlling President Trump—a charge Netanyahu swiftly rejected, praising Trump as the most independent U.S. leader in decades.
Controversial media figure Tucker Carlson has ignited backlash after releasing a video in which he claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells regional leaders he “controls Donald Trump.”
Carlson asserted: “Bibi’s running around the Middle East telling people point blank, ‘I control the United States. I control Donald Trump.’ That’s a fact.” He further alleged that Netanyahu’s influence was “damaging to Trump’s presidency, the United States, and the world,” and described Israel’s prime minister as “an unbalanced person meddling in American politics.”
He clarified that his accusations were aimed at Netanyahu personally, not at Israel, Israelis, or Jews. “The secular Prime Minister of a country is doing immense harm,” Carlson claimed, urging Trump to distance himself from Netanyahu.
But Netanyahu forcefully rejected the claims in an interview with Fox News. “President Trump does what he does because he decides what’s in America’s best interest. I’ve said this often, I don’t decide a thing for President Trump. He is the most independent and amazing leader I’ve seen in all my years.”
The Israeli leader reminded critics of Trump’s record: recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and decisive strikes against Iran’s nuclear program—all done in line with U.S. strategic interests, not foreign pressure.
Carlson, appearing later on the System Update podcast, expanded his criticism to include American leaders: “I’m attacking my leaders who are allowing my nation of 350 million people to be forced into doing things that are bad for me and my children because of some other country.”
For Netanyahu, however, the matter is simple: Trump acts independently, boldly, and always with America’s best interests first—and Israel’s security strengthens because of it.
