Tucker Carlson Claims Chabad Influencing U.S. Support for Iran War

Tucker Carlson claimed yesterday that the Chabad movement is partly responsible for the ongoing war with Iran, alleging that the Jewish outreach organization’s promotion of the traditional Jewish belief in the future rebuilding of the biblical Third Temple reflects what he described as a hidden agenda behind the conflict.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Carlson portrayed the war with Iran as part of a hidden religious agenda, suggesting that Jewish groups, particularly Chabad, are advancing efforts to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem by shaping American politics and support for Israel’s war with Iran.

Carlson began by questioning how the conflict developed, pointing to the close military relationship between the United States and Israel. “How exactly did the IDF, a military that the U.S. taxpayer pays for… wind up wearing patches suggesting the point of this war was the destruction of one of the holiest places in Islam and the rebuilding of a temple?” he asked.

He argued that the idea had advanced largely unnoticed in the United States. “The main way it happened is because no one in the United States noticed,” Carlson said.

“Chabad has been pushing… for the reconstruction of the Third Temple,” Carlson later said, presenting the belief as evidence of what he described as a broader agenda behind the war.

The remarks drew concern from commentators who warned that the argument echoes longstanding conspiracy narratives portraying Jewish groups as secretly influencing governments or wars in pursuit of religious or political goals.

Carlson framed the conflict not simply as a geopolitical confrontation but as the outcome of a religious agenda that has been quietly advancing for years. In his account, American political support for Israel and U.S. funding for the Israeli military were portrayed as the result of hidden influence by Jewish religious groups seeking to shape American policy for their own religious goals.

Chabad-Lubavitch is a Chasidic Jewish movement founded in the 18th century and best known for its global network of Jewish outreach centers. The organization operates thousands of community institutions worldwide, including synagogues, schools, youth programs, and social services aimed at strengthening Jewish identity and community life.

The hope for the rebuilding of the Third Temple has been part of Jewish prayer and belief for centuries. Jews mention it daily in prayers, viewing it as a spiritual hope connected to the future redemption of the Jewish people.

Critics say the argument echoes longstanding conspiracy narratives that accuse Jewish groups of secretly manipulating governments and wars. Those concerns are heightened by the fact that Jewish institutions, including Chabad centers, have repeatedly been targets of violence in recent years.

In December, a mass-casualty attack at a Chabad event at Bondi Beach in Australia left 15 people dead, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger. In another incident, a vehicle rammed into the Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn.

Carlson’s video extended beyond the discussion of Chabad to a broader argument about religion and geopolitics. He suggested that some political and religious leaders view the current conflict as connected to the future rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, presenting the idea as a largely unnoticed force shaping events.

Security experts and Jewish community leaders have long warned that conspiracy theories portraying Jewish groups as hidden actors behind global events can contribute to real-world threats against synagogues, schools, and community centers.