Rees-Mogg challenges Carlson over remarks on Britain’s war against Hitler

Former Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg challenged US commentator Tucker Carlson during a podcast interview over Carlson’s remarks about Britain’s decision to fight Nazi Germany in the second world war. Carlson, who has taken sympathetic positions towards Russia and interviewed Vladimir Putin, argued during the discussion that Western countries had helped provoke Russian aggression. He also questioned Britain’s military strength and suggested Russia was more powerful.

Rees-Mogg responded that Britain’s larger economy and its Western allies gave it the capacity to support Ukraine and deter Russian aggression. The conversation then turned to Britain’s decision to enter the second world war. Carlson questioned why Britain had gone to war and said Germany had a legitimate claim over parts of Poland.

Rees-Mogg replied that Britain otherwise would have ended up speaking German. Carlson answered, “Who cares?” and said it would have been acceptable for a European language to be spoken in Britain. Rees-Mogg told Carlson he was surprised that he was “verging on defending Hitler”.

Carlson responded that he was not a Nazi, either secretly or publicly. Rees-Mogg said he was reassured before arguing that Germany would have invaded Britain if the country had not entered the war. The interview was recorded after Rees-Mogg, who lost his parliamentary seat in 2024, moved into a post-politics career as a commentator.

Carlson established his show after leaving Fox News and becoming disillusioned with Donald Trump’s willingness to engage in foreign wars. The exchange drew criticism in the United States and Britain. Mike Huckabee, a Republican and US ambassador to Israel, wrote on X that Carlson had suggested Britain should have allowed the Nazis to take over.

Huckabee also referenced the number of people murdered by Hitler and criticised Carlson’s position on killing. The interview centred on competing arguments about Britain’s wartime choices, Western military policy and the causes of present-day tensions involving Russia and Ukraine.