Tucker Carlson's Chabad Smears Could Fuel Hate in California

Carlson's claims about the Jewish group Chabad being behind the war with Iran are misleading and could incite violence, says a Chabadnik.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a recent segment, Fox News host Tucker Carlson claimed that the Jewish group Chabad engineered the war with Iran as a prelude to redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple. However, the author, a Chabadnik, argues that Carlson's 'evidence' is flawed and that he failed to properly research the true nature of Chabad, which is focused on bringing the messianic age through good deeds, not military action. The author warns that Carlson's smears could fuel hate and violence against the Chabad community in California.

Why it matters

Chabad is a prominent Jewish group in California, and Carlson's misleading claims about their motivations could incite violence and hatred against the community. This comes just years after a deadly attack on a Chabad synagogue in San Diego, highlighting the real-world consequences of such rhetoric.

The details

Carlson claimed that images of arm patches worn by some soldiers, depicting the Temple, were proof that Chabad engineered the war with Iran. However, the author argues that these patches are not actually related to Chabad. The author also notes that praying for the Temple and the Messiah is common in traditional Judaism, not unique to Chabad. Chabad's focus is on bringing the messianic age through good deeds, not military action.

  • In April 2019, a gunman attacked a Chabad synagogue in San Diego County, killing one and wounding several others.
  • Carlson made his claims about Chabad in a recent segment on his Fox News show.

The players

Tucker Carlson

A Fox News host who made misleading claims about the Jewish group Chabad.

Chabad

An affiliate of a worldwide network of Orthodox Judaism that focuses on bringing the messianic age through good deeds, not military action.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Also known as the 'Rebbe', he was a dedicated scholar of Torah texts whose wisdom helped him advise and inspire Jews and non-Jews alike.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Perhaps a few more minutes of internet searching might have educated Carlson about the true nature of Chabad.”

— Ken Blaker, Chabadnik and software engineer

“I suspect that if the Rebbe could speak to Carlson, he would inspire him to go deeper than superficial punditry, and to use his platform for universal good, because that is how he spoke to everyone.”

— Ken Blaker, Chabadnik and software engineer

The takeaway

Carlson's misleading claims about Chabad could fuel hate and violence against the Jewish community in California, highlighting the real-world consequences of such rhetoric. The author urges Carlson to go beyond superficial punditry and use his platform to promote universal good, as the Rebbe did.