Richard Hanania Accuses Tucker Carlson of Intentional Antisemitic 'Dog Whistles'

Political commentator Richard Hanania has publicly accused media personality Tucker Carlson of deliberately employing antisemitic "dog whistles," asserting that Carlson's rhetoric is clearly understood by those who believe in Jewish global control. Hanania stated on social media, "Yup, this is what a good dog whistle does. The people who think Jews secretly control the world all heard Tucker loud and clear." He added, "It’s not a coincidence they happened to have something they could read into. He’s doing this on purpose.

Antisemitic "dog whistles" are coded messages often used in political discourse to convey prejudiced sentiments without explicit statements. These phrases, such as "globalists" or "puppet masters," can activate existing antisemitic tropes about Jewish influence over finance, media, or world events, resonating with a specific audience while maintaining plausible deniability for a broader public. This strategic ambiguity allows for the dissemination of harmful stereotypes under the guise of legitimate criticism.

Carlson has a documented history of facing accusations of antisemitism. Notably, his portrayal of Jewish billionaire George Soros in a 2022 film was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as promoting "antisemitic tropes" by depicting Soros as a shadowy figure manipulating global affairs. Carlson has also been a prominent proponent of the "Great Replacement" theory, a white supremacist conspiracy theory that often incorporates antisemitic elements.

Recent events in 2025 have further fueled these criticisms. During an interview, Carlson's persistent questioning of Senator Ted Cruz regarding Israel's influence led Cruz to accuse him of an "obsession with Israel." Furthermore, in 2024, Carlson drew widespread condemnation from Jewish organizations and members of Congress for providing a platform to a "Nazi apologist" who made Holocaust revisionist claims. Carlson consistently denies these allegations, framing his comments as legitimate critiques of powerful individuals or policies.

Richard Hanania himself has a complex and controversial past. In 2023, it was revealed that he had written explicitly racist, misogynistic, and antisemitic articles under the pseudonym "Richard Hoste" between 2008 and the early 2010s. These writings included claims about Jewish influence and criticisms that downplayed the Holocaust's severity. Hanania later disavowed these "juvenile and offensive" views, though some critics have questioned the sincerity of his recantation, pointing to a 2023 tweet where he discussed "Jews running America" in a context he claimed was defensive.