Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson sparks debate with his provocative statements about the White House's military aid decisions.
According to Daily Mail, Carlson claimed during an appearance on the Redacted podcast that "dark forces" and Satan himself are running President Joe Biden's administration, citing recent decisions to provide Ukraine with landmines and long-range missiles.
The controversial media personality's remarks came in response to Washington's recent policy shift regarding military assistance to Ukraine. Carlson expressed particular concern about the administration's decision to supply anti-personnel mines, arguing that such weapons would primarily harm innocent civilians.
The Biden administration's recent approval to send anti-personnel mines to Ukraine marks a significant shift in U.S. military support. These weapons are specifically designed to help Ukrainian forces repel Russian invaders and slow their advance within the country's borders. The administration has emphasized that these mines include safety features not present in older variants.
The provided landmines are equipped with specific technological safeguards. They are classified as "non-persistent" and become inert after a predetermined period, requiring battery power to detonate. This characteristic distinguishes them from conventional landmines that continue to pose risks long after conflicts end.
Additionally, the White House has granted Ukraine permission to use American-made ATACMS missiles, which have a range of 190 miles. Ukrainian forces have already utilized these weapons to target Tula, a major ammunition production center located approximately 100 miles south of Moscow.
Carlson took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's continued leadership, questioning the democratic nature of his presidency. He referenced the fact that Zelenskyy's term officially ended on May 20, though elections were postponed due to martial law implemented following Russia's 2022 invasion.
During his podcast appearance, Carlson stated:
Now I would say Satan because I really think that you've got dark forces in charge. There's no justification for using anti-personnel mines in this conflict, which can't hope to be solved. The only effect of that move is to kill innocents, period. That's it, that's the only effect - and they know that. And so they're doing it anyway because killing is the point.
The media personality also criticized Ukraine's handling of religious matters, particularly regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He referenced the case of Metropolitan Pavlo, a senior cleric who was jailed in July after being charged with inflaming religious hatred and justifying Russia's invasion.
Carlson portrayed the situation as symptomatic of what he views as Western civilization's decline. He characterized Western society as a "dying empire" facing demographic collapse and operating on what he termed a "totally pointless" finance-based economy.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, with the UN reporting at least 12,162 Ukrainian civilian deaths since Russia's invasion in February 2022. This figure underscores the human cost of the conflict that continues to escalate with the introduction of new weapons systems.
Ukraine's parliament has repeatedly voted to delay elections by 90-day intervals, with the latest postponement setting a new date of February 7. This decision has received general support from opposition parties, who acknowledge the challenges of conducting fair elections during wartime.
Carlson's provocative statements about the Biden administration's Ukraine policy have intensified the ongoing debate about U.S. military aid to Ukraine. His podcast appearance highlighted concerns about the use of anti-personnel mines and long-range missiles while also questioning the democratic legitimacy of Ukraine's current leadership.
