Tucker Carlson Challenges Chris Christie Over Ukraine War

Ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson speaks during 2022 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on November 17, 2022 in Hollywood, Florida. (Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

After questioning multiple Republican 2024 presidential candidates over the weekend, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he asked candidate Chris Christie to debate him on Ukraine and alleged the former New Jersey governor is ducking him.

Over the weekend, Mr. Christie told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that Mr. Carlson has “always been wrong” on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and said that if he were debating Mr. Carlson, he would push back. Mr. Carlson interviewed six Republican presidential candidates, while Mr. Christie, former President Donald Trump, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum didn’t attend.

“I would have said, ‘You’ve always been wrong about this, Tucker, and you’re still wrong,'” Mr. Christie told Mr. Stephanopoulos, adding that “the Ukrainians are willing to fight this fight for themselves if they have our support to be able to win it.”

Mr. Christie also said that he believes polling and speaking to voters has revealed that a “majority of Republicans want us to be supporting Ukraine,” though he didn’t cite any specific surveys. “Those folks are fighting for their own freedom, their own liberty, and they’re degrading the Russian army and sending a message to the Chinese,” he said.

Carlson Responds

But in response, Mr. Carlson posed a screenshot containing some of Mr. Christie’s comments, challenging him to a discussion on the topic.

“Sounds like this could use a longer conversation,” Mr. Carlson wrote on Twitter to his 9 million followers. “We just asked [Mr. Christie] to sit down and explain his views on Ukraine. He refused.”

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks at a town-hall-style event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., on June 6, 2023. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The former Fox News host added, “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 who knows? We hope he reconsiders.”

It comes several days after Mr. Carlson challenged former Vice President Mike Pence over his comments about Ukraine during the Iowa Family Leadership Summit.

“Anybody that says that we can’t be the leader of the free world and solve our problems at home has a pretty small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Mr. Pence said in response to a line of questions from the former Fox host. “We can do both. And as President United States, we will secure our border; we will support our military; we will revive our economy, and stand by our values. And we will also lead the world for freedom under my administration. I promise you,” he added.

In a viral exchange, Mr. Carlson questioned Mr. Pence’s statements that the United States should continue to send arms to Ukraine’s military while the United States is seeing an increase in domestic problems.

“Every city in the United States has become much worse over the past three years,” Mr. Carlson said at one point. “Our economy has degraded, the suicide rate has jumped, public filth and disorder and crime have exponentially increased. And yet your concern is that the Ukrainians ... don’t have enough tanks,” he said. “Where’s the concern for the United States in that?”

The former vice president, who is polling around 6 percent, claimed Mr. Carlson was distorting his position on the conflict and U.S. domestic issues, saying: “Tucker, I’ve heard that routine from you before.”

“I’m running for president of the United States because I think this country’s in a lot of trouble. I think [President] Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad,” Mr. Pence said. “And as president United States, we’re gonna restore law and order in our cities. We’re gonna secure our border; we’re gonna get this economy moving again. And we’re gonna make sure that we have men and women on our courts at every level that will stand for the right to life and defend all the God-given liberties enshrined in our Constitution.”

Over the weekend, Mr. Carlson asserted that the former vice president isn’t a real Christian leader because he wants to send cluster munitions of Ukraine’s government. He also claimed Mr. Pence didn’t speak out against Ukraine’s government allegedly persecuting some Christians.

In another interview in Iowa, Mr. Carlson also sparred with former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and asked him how many times he’s received the COVID-19 vaccine. When Mr. Hutchinson asked the former host the same question, Mr. Carlson said he hasn’t received the shot.

“I can see that you recoiled when I asked you that question,” said Mr. Carlson. “And I don’t think, honestly, you should be asking people about their medical care. But that became a matter of public policy, and I do think the whole country ought to pause and assess, ‘What did we just go through, and how do we feel about it now?’” So it’s a very straightforward question.”

The Epoch Times has contacted Mr. Christie’s campaign for comment.