Backlash erupts after Tucker Carlson calls Israel 'one of the ugliest countries in the world'

WASHINGTON,DC: Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson sparked fierce backlash online after calling Israel “one of the single ugliest countries in the world” during a commentary about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The remarks circulated widely after conservative activist Laura Loomer shared a clip of Carlson’s comments on Friday, March 6, and the video quickly gained traction and racked up more than one million views within about 16 hours.

Carlson calls Israel 'ugly'

In the clip, Carlson discussed Israeli military actions in Beirut while lamenting what he described as the destruction of “beautiful places” around the world.

Carlson praised the Lebanese capital’s appearance before contrasting it with Israel.

“When you say that the Israelis are destroying Beirut, which is, having been to a lot of places in the world, one of the prettiest places on the globe,” Carlson said. “Beirut is just a marvel. It’s beautiful.”

He then pivoted to a harsh critique of Israel. “It’s being destroyed by Israel, which is one of the single ugliest countries in the world,” Carlson said.

“Nothing of beauty has been built there since 1948. Sorry. I’ve been everywhere in that country.” 

“Europe, right? Beirut. Parts of Syria, the holy sites, parts of Iran are apparently beautiful, totally blown up. It does seem like a war on beauty as well,” he added. “Beautiful things wind up being destroyed.”

Loomer accuses Carlson of 'hatred of Jews'

Loomer amplified the remarks by posting the clip with a sharply critical caption accusing Carlson of anti-Jewish animus.

“Today, Tucker Qatarlson said, ‘Israel is one of the ugliest countries in the world, which has built nothing of beauty since 1948,’” Loomer wrote.

She also pushed back on Carlson’s comparison between Israel and its regional neighbors.

“He said all of Israel’s Islamic neighbors are beautiful and Israel is waging a war on beauty,” she wrote. “He said Israel wants to bomb Iran because Iran is pretty and Israel isn’t.”

“Tucker is consumed by his hatred of Jews,” Loomer added, noting that she had visited Israel multiple times and considers it “a beautiful country.”

Social media users slams Tucker Carlson

The clip quickly drew strong reactions in the replies and quote posts beneath Loomer’s post.

One commenter acknowledged the natural beauty of Iran but criticized Carlson’s perception of the conflict.

“There is no doubt Iran is beautiful,” the user wrote. “But the regime made it ugly and Israel is helping Iranian people reverse it to its beautiful version.”

Another user defended Israel’s landscape and development. “Israel is breathtakingly beautiful,” the commenter wrote.

Others questioned Carlson’s claim that he had traveled extensively throughout the country. “He’s such a liar. He hasn’t been to all of Israel,” one reply read. “He’s only been in the airport.”

Still another user argued Carlson should be removed from social platforms entirely, writing that they could not believe someone with such a large audience was allowed to spread what they described as “ridiculous, unfounded claims.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.