As media battles go, the latest tit-for-tat between Tucker Carlson, renowned conservative commentator, and Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor and GOP presidential hopeful, is proving to be entertaining, even though Christie is a longshot to become competitive in the race. The latest controversy started following Christie’s robust defense of America’s involvement in the Ukraine war, a position Carlson has long challenged.
Christie’s foray into the disagreement came during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” where he declared, “You’ve always been wrong about this, Tucker, and you’re still wrong.” Christie holds the firm belief that America’s support for Ukraine is vital in the face of what he describes as a “proxy war” with China. Yet, Carlson’s reservations about any excessive U.S. involvement in the conflict remain steadfast, a stance that has rattled Christie’s cage.
Sounds like this could use a longer conversation. We just asked @GovChristie to sit down and explain his views on Ukraine. He refused. You hate to think that Chris Christie is a blustery coward who plays the tough guy with sycophants at ABC but won’t answer real questions, but… pic.twitter.com/6khc5xi3Co
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 16, 2023
Rather than take the comments lying down, Carlson fired back, inviting Christie to a sit-down conversation to elaborate his views on the Ukraine war. “Sounds like this could use a longer conversation. We just asked @GovChristie to sit down and explain his views on Ukraine. He refused,” tweeted Carlson. It was an invitation the presidential hopeful seemingly dodged, leaving Carlson to ponder if Christie was “a blustery coward who plays the tough guy.”
It’s crucial to delve into the background of these political players to appreciate the gravity of this squabble fully. For all his grandstanding, Christie sits at a mere 2.6% in the Real Clear Politics polling data. He’s also shown an undying loyalty to the GOP corporate establishment, an entity many conservatives perceive as failing and disconnected from ordinary Americans. His defense of FBI Director Christopher Wray and the perceived politicization of the Biden Justice Department bear testimony to this allegiance.
On the other side of the argument, Carlson questions the GOP’s corporate establishment with a fierce commitment to seeking truth over towing party lines. His questions about U.S. involvement in Ukraine display his dedication to holding authorities accountable.
Despite Christie’s efforts to portray himself as a true conservative, his ties to the establishment and his defense of its actions have raised more than a few eyebrows. His willingness to recommend and defend figures like Wray, who faced serious criticism over handling the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, is not sitting well with Republican voters.
