A public dispute between Sen. Ted Cruz and commentator Tucker Carlson intensified again this week as the two prominent conservative figures exchanged sharp criticism over Israel, antisemitism, and the war with Iran.

Speaking Tuesday at an antisemitism symposium in Washington organized by the Republican Jewish Coalition and National Review, the Texas Republican delivered a blistering attack on Carlson and vowed to confront the podcast host directly.

“I believe Tucker Carlson is the single most dangerous demagogue in this country,” Cruz said. He added that antisemitism has become increasingly visible on the political right in recent months. “I have seen more antisemitism in the last 18 months on the right than at any point in my lifetime,” Cruz continued. “It is being spread by loud voices, the most consequential of whom is Tucker Carlson.”

Cruz’s comments came days after Carlson mocked Cruz and others who rely on Israeli intelligence assessments during a recent episode of his podcast.

During the March 2 broadcast, Carlson ridiculed what he described as blind trust in Israeli intelligence. “No offense to Ted Cruz or all the other dumbos who are always saying, ‘we get all this actionable intelligence, it’s so important, we need [Israel] so desperately,’” Carlson said. “Really? Let’s evaluate the quality of that intelligence.”

The conflict between the two men reflects a broader divide among conservatives over U.S. policy toward Israel and Iran. Both figures host widely followed podcasts and are frequently mentioned as possible contenders in the 2028 presidential race, making their rivalry a potential preview of future political battles within the Republican Party.

Carlson, who remains one of the most influential voices in conservative media and maintains ties to the White House, is often discussed as a possible presidential candidate despite criticism from many Republicans. Cruz, who finished second to President Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, is also viewed as a potential 2028 contender.

Asked Tuesday to respond to Cruz’s latest remarks, Carlson brushed off the criticism in a brief text message. “Pretty funny,” he said. “He’s running for president against me, which I find amusing since I’m not in the race.”

Cruz has repeatedly attacked Carlson in recent months, including over Carlson’s decision to host white nationalist Nick Fuentes on his podcast without challenging Fuentes’ claim that the “big challenge” to unifying the country is “organized Jewry.”

The Texas senator has suggested that opposing antisemitism and strengthening support for Israel could be key elements of a possible presidential campaign. Speaking at the symposium Tuesday, he warned that the political landscape could shift in troubling ways if voices like Carlson’s gain greater influence.

“I don’t want to wake up in five years and find myself in a country where both major political parties are unambiguously antisemitic,” Cruz said. “I think that is a real possibility, if Tucker and his minions prevail.”

The two men have clashed repeatedly over Middle East policy and have been sparring publicly for months.

In June 2025, Carlson invited Cruz onto an episode of “The Tucker Carlson Show,” one of the most widely streamed podcasts on Spotify. During the interview, the two argued intensely about Iran, with Carlson accusing Cruz of lacking knowledge about the country.

Carlson said Cruz didn’t “know anything” about “the country you seek to topple.”

Cruz fired back during the exchange, suggesting Carlson’s criticism of Israel echoed antisemitic arguments.

“You’re not talking about the Chinese, you’re not talking about the Japanese, you’re not talking about the British, you’re not talking about the French,” Cruz told Carlson. “You’re asking, ‘why are the Jews controlling our foreign policy?’ That’s what you just asked.”

After the interview aired, Cruz used his own podcast, “Verdict with Ted Cruz,” to defend his performance and criticize Carlson’s conduct, saying the commentator had gone “off the rails.”

Later in November, while addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition’s leadership summit in Las Vegas, Cruz escalated the rhetoric further by calling Carlson a “coward.” Speaking days afterward at a Federalist Society event in Washington, he said some Republicans hesitate to challenge Carlson publicly because “he has one hell of a big megaphone.”

At Tuesday’s symposium, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas appeared to dismiss the influence of what he described as internet personalities promoting antisemitic views. Although he did not mention Carlson by name, Cotton referred to “so-called influencers” spreading such ideas and minimized their impact.

“They are not influential,” Cotton said. “They are at least not influential with Donald Trump, who continues to reject their kooky advice.”

Despite criticism from many Republican leaders, Carlson’s views about Israel have gained traction among segments of younger conservatives. Recent polling highlights shifting attitudes, with a Yale Youth Poll showing Americans under 35 significantly more likely than older generations to believe that U.S. Jews “have too much power.” A Pew survey last year also found that the share of Republicans under 50 holding unfavorable views of Israel increased from 35 percent to 50 percent over the previous three years.

When asked whether he might seek the presidency in 2028, Carlson responded with a quip aimed directly at Cruz.

“Only if it’s against Cruz.”