The Biden administration has strongly criticized Tucker Carlson after the far-right media personality hosted an interview with podcaster Darryl Cooper, who suggested that the Holocaust was
accidental. The White House called the interview “a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans.”
During a two-hour interview, Carlson introduced Cooper as "perhaps the best and most honest popular historian in the United States." Cooper, however, downplayed the intentional mass murder of Jews by Nazi Germany, describing it as a result of poor planning rather than a deliberate extermination campaign. Cooper also blamed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, calling him the "chief villain of the Second World War" and claiming that Churchill was primarily responsible for the war’s escalation beyond the invasion of Poland.
Carlson’s decision to air the interview has faced widespread criticism, even from some right-wing figures who have previously defended him. Elon Musk, who initially promoted the interview on his social media platform X, later deleted his post after backlash.
On Thursday, the White House weighed in, with senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates releasing a statement to CNN: "Giving a microphone to a Holocaust denier who spreads Nazi propaganda is a disgusting and sadistic insult to all Americans, to the memory of the over 6 million Jews who were genocidally murdered by Adolf Hitler, to the service of the millions of Americans who fought to defeat Nazism, and to every subsequent victim of Antisemitism."
The administration's statement also rejected Cooper's claim that Churchill was the main villain of World War II, with Bates writing: "Hitler was one of the most evil figures in human history and the ‘chief villain’ of World War II, full stop. The Biden-Harris Administration believes that trafficking in this moral rot is unacceptable at any time, especially at a moment when Antisemitism is on the rise globally."
In response, Carlson lashed out at the White House, accusing the administration of using the "myth of Churchill" to push the country toward nuclear conflict. "They’re warmonger freaks. They don’t get the moral high ground,” Carlson told CNN in a text message.
Despite the controversy, Carlson’s interview has been condemned by several prominent voices, including Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who called it “truly revolting.” Greenblatt emphasized that the Nazi regime’s extermination of Jews was a deliberate plan, and that millions of people did not just "end up dead" by accident.
Carlson, since his departure from Fox News over a year ago, has continued to court controversy through his web videos and public appearances. He has hosted interviews with controversial figures such as Alex Jones and others, seemingly reveling in the outrage they generate. Despite this, Carlson remains a prominent figure within the Republican Party and was given a prime-time speaking slot at last month’s GOP convention in Milwaukee.
Carlson is also embarking on a national speaking tour this fall, with events across the country. Senator JD Vance, Donald Trump’s 2024 vice presidential pick, is scheduled to appear alongside Carlson at an event in Hershey, Pennsylvania on September 21, according to a source familiar with the plans. However, the recent controversy surrounding Cooper’s interview has raised questions about whether Vance will proceed with the appearance.
In a statement, Vance’s campaign distanced itself from the interview, with spokesperson William Martin saying: “Senator Vance doesn’t believe in guilt-by-association cancel culture, but he obviously does not share the views of the guest interviewed by Tucker Carlson.” Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.