Birth of a new foreign policy coalition? Why Tucker Carlson’s movement and the far left could reshape America’s support for Israel

It started with a photograph.

Tucker Carlson welcomed some of the biggest names in the America First Isolationist Movement to his home in Maine. Around the table sat soon-to-be-former Congressman Thomas Massie, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent, along with their spouses. The image quickly ricocheted across social media, sparking speculation that something much bigger than a dinner party was unfolding.

Then came the so-called “vision.” Days later, Carlson unveiled a 10-point vision for what he described as a new political movement, fueling fresh talk that he is laying the groundwork for a third party built around populism, nationalism and a dramatically different vision for America’s role in the world.

Whether a third party ever materializes is an interesting storyline, but the real story is happening now. America is witnessing the birth of a new foreign policy coalition. And here’s the truth: Israel could find itself at the center of one of the biggest political realignments Washington has seen in generations.

The days when both Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly back Israel seem to be kaput. It came first from the progressive left and now from parts of the isolationist “Woke Right.”

For years, the criticism of Israel from the American left was through the lens of colonialism, oppression and human rights. The far-right viewed foreign policy through the failures of Iraq, Afghanistan and decades of endless wars caused by Washington’s political establishment.

Both sides have different worldviews, philosophies and political traditions, yet now they are beginning to arrive at many of the same conclusions. The clearest example is the rhetoric surrounding Gaza.

Accusations that Israel was committing genocide came at first almost exclusively from the progressive left. Democratic Socialists, pro-Palestinian activists and anti-Israel organizations made such claims a central part of their effort to isolate Israel diplomatically and end American military support.

But now it’s spread to the Far Woke Right. Tucker Carlson has repeatedly described Israel’s conduct in Gaza in terms commonly associated with genocide. In a recent interview with Israeli television, Carlson defended his earlier use of the term, saying, “You can call it genocide or ethnic cleansing. You can call it a crime, a sin, an atrocity. I don’t really care.”

In a separate interview with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Carlson argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s biblical reference to Amalek amounted to “calling for genocide.”

Other prominent voices in Tucker’s orbit have likewise embraced or amplified genocide allegations while arguing that the United States should end military assistance to Israel. It’s really been a remarkable political shift. In essence, they are using the same vocabulary.

It all goes well beyond the genocide debate. Both camps question taxpayer-funded military aid and the special U.S.-Israel relationship. This is where the story becomes much bigger than Tucker Carlson.

In modern history, American politics has largely been understood through one lens: Left versus right; Liberals versus conservatives; Democrats versus Republicans. However, don’t be fooled. That may no longer be the most important divide. An entirely different coalition is emerging.

You have on one side those who believe America should continue leading the post-World War II international order—maintaining alliances, projecting military power when necessary and supporting democratic allies like Israel. The Far Right and Far Left love to use the blanket term, “Neo-Cons,” to this group.

On the other side is this weird new Tucker Carlson/Hasan Piker alliance that uses anti-Israel and/or antisemitic rhetoric while increasingly questioning whether the United States should continue supporting Israel.

To be clear, the Far Left and Woke Right disagree overall on taxes, immigration, climate policy, abortion, etc. But when it comes to hating Israel, they’re breaking bread.

To make sense of this strange bedfellows unity movement, we should mention something political scientists have long debated and what has come to be known as the Horseshoe Theory. Rather than viewing politics as a straight line, the theory argues that ideological extremes often bend back toward one another, resembling opposite ends of a horseshoe. It may be an oversimplification to a degree, but it offers one possible explanation for what is unfolding today.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you’re going to see Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker barnstorming around the country together. That’s unlikely to happen even though they definitely could start an “Anti-Israel Tour Across America.”

So what are we left with from a practical and tangible standpoint? This reality: Tucker Carlson’s flirtation with a third party deserves attention. Not simply because it could divide Republicans. That is surely to happen, but also because it could institutionalize an entirely new foreign policy movement and a Carlson-led coalition could bring that into organized politics and totally reshuffle the deck.

That could be bad news for Israel. The fight has only just begun.