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Jacob Rees-Mogg accuses Tucker Carlson of ‘verging on defending Hitler’ in WWII debate

Interview at former MP’s home sees US commentator dismiss British sacrifice against Nazis

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Former Tory minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused US rightwing commentator Tucker Carlson of ‘verging on defending Hitler’ after Carlson suggested Britain should not have fought Nazi Germany and asked ‘who cares?’ about the prospect of a British defeat.

The exchange took place during an interview Carlson recorded at Rees-Mogg’s home, where the former MP has carved out a post‑politics career as a commentator after losing his seat in 2024. Carlson, who left Fox News and has since interviewed Vladimir Putin, took a sympathetic line toward Russia and repeatedly goaded Rees-Mogg over the size of the UK armed forces.

When Rees-Mogg argued that Britain had to enter the second world war or risk ‘speaking German’, Carlson replied: ‘Who cares? There are a lot of people in Britain who can’t speak English. So it would be nice to have at least a European language spoken in your country.’

Rees-Mogg said he was ‘very surprised’ that Carlson was ‘verging on defending Hitler’, adding ‘I think this is not really what you want to be doing’. Carlson responded: ‘Yeah, I guess I’m just a secret Nazi. I’m actually not a secret Nazi … and hardly a public Nazi.’ Rees-Mogg said he was reassured, but insisted Germany would have invaded had the UK not gone to war.

The interview has drawn criticism on both sides of the Atlantic. Mike Huckabee, the Republican and US ambassador to Israel, posted on X: ‘When it seemed impossible for Toxic Tucker to descend deeper into the sewer here he goes opining that UK should have let Nazis take over. Forget that Hitler murdered 11 million people? I thought Tucker was against killing? He needs help. Serious help.’

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The interview reignites debate over historical memory of WWII and the moral necessity of allied intervention.
  • Carlson’s platform reaches a large US audience; his revisionist comments could influence views on NATO and current Western support for Ukraine.
  • The public clash between two conservative figures signals deepening fractures within right‑wing commentary circles over foreign policy.

Background

Tucker Carlson became a leading voice on the American right during his tenure at Fox News, which ended in 2023. Since then he has moved toward a non‑interventionist, anti‑establishment stance, interviewing Putin and criticising US involvement in foreign wars. Jacob Rees‑Mogg, a prominent Brexit supporter, lost his Commons seat in the 2024 general election and has since built a media career. The two men represent different strands of conservatism: Rees‑Mogg’s traditional Atlanticism versus Carlson’s scepticism of Western alliances.

Key Perspectives

Jacob Rees‑Mogg: Defends Britain’s decision to fight Nazi Germany and argues the West must support Ukraine to deter Russian aggression. He sees Carlson’s comments as crossing a line into defending Hitler. Tucker Carlson: Questions why Britain entered WWII, suggests Germany had a legitimate claim to parts of Poland, and downplays the significance of a Nazi victory. He frames his position as anti‑war rather than pro‑Nazi. Critics (Mike Huckabee and others): Condemn Carlson’s remarks as morally abhorrent, pointing to the Holocaust and the millions killed by Hitler. Huckabee calls for Carlson to seek ‘serious help.’

What to Watch

  • Whether Carlson’s audience or advertisers react to the controversy.
  • Possible further public statements from Rees‑Mogg or other UK politicians.
  • The potential impact on Carlson’s credibility among mainstream conservatives ahead of the 2028 US election cycle.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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