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Tucker Carlson defends 'White replacement theory', ADL wants Fox host fired over 'race-baiting'

'Tucker Carlson is not an original thinker or a provocateur. He's a charlatan and a bigot,' a user commented

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is calling for Tucker Carlson to be fired after his latest segment on-air. On Thursday, April 8, the Fox News host invoked 'White replacement theory', a theory that claims White people are being intentionally replaced by immigrants. The remarks came as Carlson was debating the immigrant crisis on the southern border, one of his most frequent topics. 

Carlson said that the Democratic Party was "trying to replace the current electorate," and added, "everyone wants to make a racial issue out of it, ‘Ooh, the White replacement theory".  He then defended the naming of the theory, saying "No, no, no, this is a voting rights question. I have less political power because they are importing a brand-new electorate. Why should I sit back and take that? The power that I have as an American, guaranteed at birth, is one man, one vote. And they are diluting it.”

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The comments have since sparked a massive backlash online, as well as offline. Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL's CEO wrote a public letter slamming Carlson the following day. Greenblatt said, "Carlson’s rhetoric was not just a dog whistle to racists – it was a bullhorn". He added, "this is not legitimate political discourse. It is dangerous race-baiting, extreme rhetoric". The letter also provided other examples of Carlson's racist rhetoric on air, before ending by saying "we believe it is time for Carlson to go".

The controversial theory believes that White people are being forcibly replaced by immigrants and that they will destroy White Christian culture. It is a popular white supremacy theory that has been linked to the Christchurch shooter in 2019. It was also used by the neo-nazis during their 2017 march in Charlottesville when they changed "you will not replace us". The theory is used to scare White people into action against immigrants, as well as justify an anti-immigration agenda.

'He knows exactly what he is saying'

The ADL isn't the only source of condemnation, Carlson is facing a lot of criticism at the moment. The Intelligencer magazine wrote, "Carlson is intelligent enough to understand the definition of a grade-school term like replacement. He could simply make standard-issue, non-racist arguments for lower levels of legal immigration, or perhaps more stringent border security. Instead, he actively wants to frame his ideas in terms that appeal to white supremacists." 

Online too, he is being slammed by a large number of people. Joe Walsh tweeted, "Tucker Carlson is no dummy. He knows exactly what he’s saying. And once again last night, he sounded exactly like a white supremacist. It was no accident. Once again." Wajahat Ali said, "The main villains are Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. They are the ones who enable and allow racists like Tucker Carlson to use his cable show to promote literal white supremacist talking points. They do it for profit."

Al Jazeera journalist Exavier Pope said, "Tucker Carlson openly is defending white replacement theory as a reason for voter suppression. This is openly white supremacist, domestic terrorist language openly espoused on American television. This is dangerous".

"Tucker Carlson is a white suprematist and this isn’t even a controversial opinion" said the Daily Beast's editor Molly Jong-Fast. Another person said, "Tucker Carlson launders white supremacist talking points to millions. He is not an original thinker or a provocateur. He's a charlatan and a bigot."

One person joked, "Tucker Carlson might as well march around his set chanting "Jews will not replace us" and "Blood & Soil."" Another said, "Tucker Carlson is a White Supremacy supporter and should not longer be on the air anywhere."

Carlson has found some support online, with a handful of conservatives including JD Vance defending him online. Fox is also yet to reply to ADL's letter, but judging by history they are not likely to. Carlson has been accused of racist behaviour in the past, but Fox has only doubled down and given Carlson free rein.