Tucker Carlson is taking aim at the Trump administration and Israel, warning that officials are using the shocking murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as an excuse to restrict constitutionally protected speech in the U.S.
The ex Fox News anchor and popular commentator accused the government of weaponizing Kirk's death to threaten personal freedoms.
Carlson contends that officials are using the outrage surrounding Kirk's assassination to justify punitive actions against speech that, while offensive or controversial, remains protected under U.S. law. After Kirk's death, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the administration would "absolutely target" individuals who engage in what she called "hate speech."
The United States does not have a "hate speech" exception to the First Amendment, meaning most forms of such expression cannot be punished by the government. Vice President J.D. Vance, appearing on Kirk's own podcast, urged citizens to report those who celebrated Kirk's death and to pressure their employers. "If you see somebody laughing about this, call their boss," Vance said, a remark that drew both support and criticism online.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a crackdown on service members who posted mocking or celebratory messages about Kirk's death. Reports indicate that dozens of troops have been disciplined under new zero-tolerance guidelines, raising concerns about the scope of permissible expression for members of the military.
While being interviewed by Vance on Kirk's show, Carlson said he was disturbed by what he called the politicization of Kirk's death by both American leaders and foreign allies. He criticized those who, in his words, "jump in ... to say, 'This is what he lived for, my cause,'" calling the effort "disgusting" and a misrepresentation of who Kirk was.
Carlson also singled out "foreign heads of state," likely a veiled reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described Kirk after his death as a symbol of Western values and free speech. Carlson argued that such statements oversimplify Kirk's views and exploit his memory for political ends.
Charlie Kirk was a defender of our common Judeo-Christian civilization.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 11, 2025
Charlie was more than a friend of Israel. He was a great champion of our shared roots and values.
May his memory be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/QVVEJjKxey
On his own show, Carlson alleged that Kirk told him "many times" that he "did not like Bibi Netanyahu" and was appalled by what was happening in Gaza... and above all, resentful that Netanyahu was using the U.S. to prosecute wars for Israel's benefit."
🚨 Tucker Carlson: Charlie Kirk “did not like Bibi Netanyahu.”
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) September 17, 2025
“He was appalled by what was happening in Gaza… and above all, resentful that Netanyahu was using the U.S. to prosecute wars for Israel’s benefit.”
This flips the entire narrative. pic.twitter.com/6nir99PA0n
His statements echo those of his friend and former co-worker, Candace Owens, who alleged that Kirk was offered "a ton of money" if he would soften or abandon his criticisms of Israel, and she even alleged that Netanyahu had reached out to him personally.
"There were threats made to Charlie," Owens said, characterizing the meeting as a coercive effort to control Kirk's positions. She added that the intervention centered on demands tied to pro-Israel groups and suggested Kirk had resisted lucrative funding offers connected to those interests.
Carlson also expressed concern regarding the actions taken by the Trump administration to punish those seen as celebrating Kirk's assassination. He states on his show that, "You hope that Charlie Kirk's death won't be used... to create a society that was the opposite of the one he worked to build... the turmoil we're seeing in the aftermath of this murder won't be leveraged to bring hate speech laws to this country... if it is...there is never a more justified moment for civil disobedience than that... if they can tell you what to say, they're telling you what to think. There is nothing they can't do to you because they don't consider you human. They don't believe you have a soul."
Tucker Carlson: "You hope that a year from now the turmoil we're seeing in the aftermath of [Charlie Kirk's] murder won't be leveraged to bring hate speech laws into this country. If that does happen, there is never a more justified moment for civil disobedience." pic.twitter.com/6kIKeSyC6p
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) September 17, 2025
Kirk had been a staunch defender of Israel, even controversially stating that "Palestine" did not exist in a debate with a college student. However, he had leveled very light criticism at Israel and the country's supporters after the events of October 7th. Kirk, known for his debates, would host pro-Palestine voices on his show, garnering criticism from his Zionist conservative audience.
He expressed his frustration with this on the Megyn Kelly Show in August of this year, stating, "I have less ability, sometimes, online, to criticize the Israeli government about backlash, than actual Israelis do, and that's really, really weird."
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