- Russia has sent 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border, sparking fears of invasion.
- Tucker Carlson called Sen. Jim Risch a “moron” for pushing for US involvement in Ukraine.
- Carlson has joked about being an agent of Russia in recent segments of his show.
As Tucker Carlson rails against US involvement in Ukraine, several GOP senators are shrugging off criticism from the Fox News host over their support for the eastern European country amid escalating tensions on its eastern border, Politico reported.
Carlson has dedicated segments on several recent episodes of his show to condemning Republican officials who are advocating for a stronger, militaristic response to Russia, which has sent more than 100,000 troops to its border with Ukraine over the last several months.
—The Columbia Bugle 🏁 (@ColumbiaBugle) January 25, 2022
“Why is it disloyal to side with Russia but loyal to side with Ukraine? They’re both foreign countries that don’t care anything about the United States. Kind of strange,” Carlson said last Monday.
From calling Sen. Joni Ernst “totally ignorant” and Sen. Jim Risch a “moron masquerading as a senator,” Carlson has explicitly outlined his stance on the escalating situation, even joking about being an agent of Russia.
However, several of Carlson’s GOP targets told Politico they disagree with his views and believe responding to Russia’s aggressive tactics is necessary as Ukraine’s sovereignty hangs in the balance.
“On individuals up here who are decision-makers, I don’t hear any disagreement about the position Russia is in,” Sen. Mike Rounds, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Politico. “Russia is the aggressor … Ukraine has every right, as a sovereign nation, to have their borders respected. Russia’s not doing that.”
When asked about Carlson’s monologues, Sen. John Cornyn told Politico allies around the world are watching how the US responds to this crisis following its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, adding that Carlson is “not in a position of being responsible for those decisions,” unlike sitting members of Congress.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that if Russia invades Ukraine, it could result in a “fully-fledged” European war.
