Carlson alleges Donald Trump was unable to restrain Benjamin Netanyahu, raising questions over US foreign policy and influence in the Middle East conflict
By TRH World Desk
New Delhi, May 3, 2026 — Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has ignited a fresh controversy after claiming that US President Donald Trump is effectively a “hostage” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging undue influence over American foreign policy.
In an interview with Lulu Garcia-Navarro of The New York Times, Carlson argued that Trump’s decisions during a recent Middle East conflict were shaped not by US interests but by Israeli priorities.
Carlson expressed skepticism that Trump independently chose to escalate tensions, saying it was “hard to believe” the US president would support actions that risk “shutting down a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas supply.” He went further, asserting that Trump was “being held hostage” by Netanyahu and his supporters in the United States.
Claims of Ceasefire Undermined
According to Carlson, Trump had initially pushed for a ceasefire and negotiations with Iran, but those efforts were derailed. He alleged that Israel’s military actions in Lebanon — including strikes that killed civilians — were timed to sabotage diplomatic talks.
Referring to Israel’s long-standing military involvement in Lebanon, Carlson argued that such actions were not purely defensive but aimed at prolonging conflict. He suggested that this strategy ultimately prevented a negotiated settlement with Iran.
“Total Control” Allegation
Carlson framed the issue as a failure of American leadership, claiming that Trump was unable or unwilling to restrain Netanyahu. He argued that the United States, given its financial and military support to Israel, holds significant leverage — leverage he believes was not exercised.
“Trump could not restrain Netanyahu,” Carlson said, adding that this amounted to “total control of one man by another.”
He emphasized that his criticism was not directed at Israel itself, but at what he described as a misalignment of US foreign policy priorities. Carlson maintained that American leadership should act in the country’s own strategic and economic interests.
Carlson also rejected accusations of anti-Semitism, stating that criticism of Israeli policy should not be conflated with prejudice.
The interview adds to growing scrutiny of US involvement in global conflicts and raises questions about the balance between alliance commitments and national interest in American foreign policy.
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