Tucker Carlson claims white supremacy 'not a real problem in America'
On Tuesday's Tucker Carlson Tonight, the conservative talk show host claimed that white supremacy is not a real issue for America, but rather "a conspiracy theory" that Democrats "are using to help in this election cycle." Tucker's comments come on the heels of three mass shootings committed by white males in the past month, one of which specifically targeted immigrants in El Paso, Texas. Additionally, the national rate of hate crimes increased for the fifth consecutive year, with nearly all related homicides carried out by the far right. Despite this news, Tucker doesn't think white supremacy should be high on America's list of concerns. "If you were to assemble a list, a hierarchy of concerns, of problems this country faces, where would White Supremacy be on the list? Right up there with Russia probably. It's actually not a real problem in America."
Many politicians linked the El Paso shooter's anti-immigrant screed with President Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric. The President responded by publicly denouncing white supremacy during a televised address from the White House on Tuesday. To which Tucker responded, "It's not the job of this show to defend the President and everything he says great some things we are not going to defend. But in point of fact, he never endorsed white supremacy or came close to endorsing white supremacy. That's just a lie."
Trump wasn't the only Republican to speak out. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw and Ivanka Trump all denounced white supremacy on Twitter following the El Paso shooting, which appears to be the deadliest hate crime against Latinos.
We must speak clearly to combat evil in any form it takes. What we saw yesterday was a heinous act of terrorism and white supremacy. There is no place for this in El Paso, in Texas, or anywhere across our nation.
We are all Americans and we are all standing united with El Paso.— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 4, 2019
White supremacy, like all other forms of terrorism, is an evil that must be destroyed.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 4, 2019
White supremacy has no place in this world. Violence inflicted because of someone’s race or ethnicity is vile, repulsive, and one of the worst evils we face. It must end.
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) August 4, 2019
Despite the condemnation from both sides of the aisle, Tucker said "This is a country where the average person is getting poorer, where the suicide rate is spiking. White supremacy that's the problem. This is a hoax. Just like the Russia hoax. It's a conspiracy theory used to divide the country and keep a hold on power."
Tucker Carlson Tonight airs weeknights at 8 p.m. on Fox News.
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