Mehdi Hasan says Tucker Carlson surge among Arab Americans puts him in a bind

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan has acknowledged a striking shift in audience sentiment as Tucker Carlson gains unexpected traction among Arab Americans and anti-war audiences.

Hasan, while speaking to Hasan Minhaj on Wednesday, April 29, said the trend has left him conflicted, as people increasingly approach him about Carlson at public events.

According to Hasan, the conservative host’s messaging is resonating far beyond his traditional base, forcing a rethink of familiar political and media boundaries.

Mehdi Hasan admits Carlson’s unexpected crossover

What Hasan is describing is less a moment and more a pattern.

At speaking engagements and community events, he said the same question keeps surfacing: why hasn’t he engaged with Carlson yet?

“Wherever I go, people come up to me” asking about Carlson, Hasan noted, pointing to a level of curiosity that goes beyond casual interest.

In some cases, the praise is explicit; audiences tell him they “love” Carlson and want to see the two in conversation.

The shift appears rooted in Carlson’s foreign policy positioning. Hasan observed that many anti-war viewers now see him as someone “trying to stop” further escalation, particularly around Iran.

Among some Arab American audiences, that stance has translated into something stronger- a perception of Carlson as a defender of Palestinian issues.

For Hasan, that creates an unusual tension. He made clear he has deep disagreements with Carlson, but also admitted the appeal isn’t entirely mysterious.

“He’s saying what needs to be said,” Hasan conceded, even while maintaining distance from Carlson’s worldview.

He suggested that while part of him views Carlson through a critical, media-savvy lens, another part recognizes that he is voicing arguments that many feel are missing elsewhere.

Hasan admitted that he'd like to speak to Tucker Carlson to “get to the bottom” of the reasons behind the shift in his stance.

Tucker Carlson's shifting alliances

Carlson’s growing crossover appeal comes as his relationship with President Donald Trump has frayed.

Once aligned, the two have diverged sharply, particularly over foreign policy and military engagement.

On The Tucker Carlson Show, Carlson recently reflected on his past support for Trump, saying he felt remorse for the role he played in boosting him politically.

The comment marked a notable departure from his earlier advocacy.

Trump, in turn, has publicly lashed out, calling Tucker 'low IQ', exposing the widening rift.

Hasan pointed to this evolution as part of a pattern, noting that figures like Joe Rogan and Candace Owens have also shifted tone after previously backing Trump.