Conservative media personality Tucker Carlson denied ever labeling Donald Trump the “antichrist” during a tense exchange with New York Times journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro, only to backtrack when confronted with his own recent broadcast scripts.
The confrontation, featured on the Times’ program The Interview, highlights a growing rift between Carlson and the president, fueled by disagreements over foreign policy in Iran and controversial social media depictions of the two figures.
During the discussion, Garcia-Navarro pointed to Carlson’s recent coverage, specifically his observations regarding the president’s 2017 inauguration. She noted that Carlson told his audience Trump did not place his hand on a Bible during the ceremony.
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“Maybe he didn’t put his hand on the Bible because he affirmatively rejects what’s inside that book,” Garcia-Navarro quoted from Carlson’s show. When she pressed him on whether he specifically asked his audience, “Could this be the antichrist?” Carlson initially issued a flat denial.
“I actually did not say, ‘Could this be the antichrist,’” Carlson told Garcia-Navarro.
He claimed he didn’t know where the quote originated and insisted those words never left his lips because he does not fully understand the theological definition of the term.
He maintained that if he truly believed the president was the antichrist, he would say so directly, but that he was currently unable to define the concept based on his reading of the Old and New Testaments.
Garcia-Navarro continued to push, citing Carlson’s recent appearance with Russell Brand, where the two analyzed biblical passages.
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She reiterated that Carlson had indeed used the specific phrasing in question. Facing a persistent line of questioning regarding his televised segments, Carlson eventually shifted his stance. “Man, then my apologies to you if there’s a video of me saying that,” Carlson said.
He explained that if he did use the word, it didn’t reflect a precise conviction but rather an exploration of “unseen forces” and the spiritual realm. Carlson concluded by stating that any such comment suggested a level of certainty he hasn’t actually reached.
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