Tucker Carlson Sparks Controversy With Remarks on World War II Outcome

Tucker Carlson, the American commentator, has ignited a firestorm of criticism after suggesting that Britain might have been better off losing World War II. In a recent episode of his show, Carlson posited that the war led to the destruction of the British empire and the country, a notion he argued was a flawed premise.

During a discussion with Jacob-Rees Mogg, Carlson questioned whether Britain had benefited from fighting and winning the war, asking if it had become a better country as a result. Rees-Mogg countered, describing the conflict as a fight between good and evil and asserting that Britain did the right thing by defeating Hitler, stating, "otherwise we'd be speaking German."

Carlson then suggested that given the number of people in Britain unable to speak English, it might have been preferable to speak a European language, implying German. Rees-Mogg dismissed this, emphasizing the desire to speak English and stating that Britain benefited by preventing a German invasion.

When accused of sounding like he was defending Hitler, Carlson denied being a "secret Nazi," claiming instead to be someone who "tries to think clearly about cause and effect."

The remarks drew immediate condemnation from various figures. Republican Senator Ted Cruz responded on X, stating that "the world would be much worse off if the Nazis had won WWII" and that "this is not complicated." The U.S. ambassador to Israel also criticized Carlson, calling his comments a "disgusting and sadistic insult" and suggesting Carlson "needs help."

Carlson's past comments have also drawn scrutiny. He previously described Daryl Cooper, who has espoused Holocaust denial and claimed Winston Churchill was the main villain of World War II, as "the best and most popular historian in the United States." The Biden White House issued a strong rebuke at the time, denouncing the platforming of Holocaust deniers as an "insult to all Americans" and to the memory of Holocaust victims.

In the same discussion, Carlson also made claims about the Russian economy. He asserted that Russia's economy is larger than Britain's, citing its greater wealth and resources. Rees-Mogg disputed this, providing figures that showed the UK's GDP to be approximately £3.22 trillion, compared to Russia's estimated £2.01 trillion. He further noted that Russia's GDP per capita is significantly lower than the UK's, calling Russia an "economic failure" due to corruption and mismanagement.

Carlson's previous commentary on Russia, including a video praising Moscow's groceries while overlooking lower wages, also faced widespread ridicule. He highlighted the affordability of goods in a Russian supermarket, suggesting a week's shopping could cost $100, compared to up to $400 in the U.S. Critics pointed out the vast difference in average wages between the two countries.