‘You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?’Tucker Carlson absolutely destroys Ted Cruz over Iran war push

In a recent segment of his show, Tucker Carlson engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, whose political career has been marked by several high-profile controversies, questioning the Republican senator’s support for regime change in Iran amid growing tensions between Iran and Israel.

The interview, released on Tuesday, quickly gained attention as Carlson pressed Cruz on basic facts about Iran, revealing the senator’s lack of knowledge about the country he advocates taking action against.

According to MSNBC, during the exchange, Carlson asked Cruz about Iran’s population, to which Cruz admitted he didn’t know. Carlson then pressed further, asking, “You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?” When Cruz defended himself by saying he doesn’t memorize population tables, Carlson informed him that Iran has approximately 90 million people.

Cruz’s claims about Iran’s threat level raise concerns

The interview highlighted Cruz’s recent statements about Iran, including his claim that Iran obtaining nuclear weapons is “the most acute threat the United States faces today.” This assertion contradicts current geopolitical assessments, as Iran remains an economically struggling regional power without nuclear weapons, while countries like Russia, China, and North Korea pose more significant threats to the United States.

Cruz’s warnings about potential “mushroom clouds over New York City or Los Angeles” were also questioned during the interview. Critics point out that the principle of mutually assured destruction, which has prevented nuclear warfare globally, would likely deter Iran from using nuclear weapons even if it obtained them.

The exchange revealed a wider divide in Republican attitudes toward military intervention. According to an Economist/YouGov poll conducted between June 13 and June 16, only 23 percent of Republicans support U.S. military involvement in the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Throughout the interview, Cruz appeared frustrated with Carlson’s questioning, at one point dismissively saying, “This is cute,” and defending himself by stating, “I am not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran.” The exchange underscored the importance of understanding basic demographic facts about countries targeted for potential military action, especially considering past U.S. experiences in places like Iraq, where misunderstanding local dynamics contributed to failed nation-building efforts.

Despite Carlson’s aggressive questioning style, which effectively exposed gaps in Cruz’s knowledge about Iran, though Carlson himself has a documented history of spreading misinformation and making controversial statements, it’s worth noting that Carlson’s opposition to foreign intervention stems from right-wing nationalist views rather than humanitarian concerns. However, his interview successfully highlighted the complexity of proposing military action against a nation of 90 million people with a rich cultural, political, and social history.