Mike Johnson slams Tucker Carlson over Nick Fuentes interview, calls it a 'big mistake'

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that he personally confronted Tucker Carlson regarding his controversial interview with Nick Fuentes, telling the former Fox News host that giving a platform to the commentator was a "big mistake."

In a candid interview with The Hill's Emily Brooks on Friday, November 22, Johnson disclosed details of his private conversation with Carlson, which highlighted a growing rift within the conservative movement over where to draw the line between free speech and responsible broadcasting. 

While Johnson reportedly remained a staunch defender of the First Amendment, he argued that conservatives have a moral obligation not to "amplify" voices that spew "vile" hatred.

Mike Johnson calls Nick Fuentes interview a 'big mistake'

Johnson, a lifelong conservative, did not mince words while describing his reaction to the Carlson-Fuentes sit-down.

"I spoke briefly with Tucker about that, and I think it’s a responsibility. He has a lot of listeners, and I think giving Nick Fuentes that platform is a big mistake," Johnson said.

When asked how the conservative pundit took the criticism, Johnson claimed that there was no meeting of the minds.

"Well, obviously, I’m not sure if he agreed with me on that," Johnson noted. "But we have different views on Israel, and, you know, we’ve talked about that."

The speaker described Fuentes' rhetoric as "vile, terrible stuff," characterizing it as "not just anti***itic" but "openly r**ist" and "violent" - language he claimed one "can't even repeat on the House floor."

Trump defends Tucker Carlson's right to interview who he wants

While Johnson urged caution, President Donald Trump recently weighed in with a defense of Carlson's independence.

"You can’t tell him who to interview," Trump said to reporters on November 17, defending Carlson's editorial freedom.

The president noted that he didn't know much about Fuentes personally but emphasized that "people have to decide" for themselves what to believe, rather than having gatekeepers dictate who can be heard.

Johnson acknowledged this tension, citing his own background as a free speech attorney.

"Tucker and everyone else have their right to free speech... What I’m saying is that we have a responsibility," Johnson clarified. "Our responsibility is not to amplify that, not to give it a platform."

Foreign policy divide related to Israel emerges among Republicans

Underlying the clash is a deepening divide over foreign policy. Carlson has reportedly been critical of the speaker's push for US aid to Israel, reflecting a shift among some Republicans.

Johnson, however, stood firm on the traditional GOP stance.

"Israel is certainly in the interest of the United States to have a stable democracy in that region," Johnson said, dismissing isolationist arguments. "Anyone that denies that, I think, is just denying reality."