Rees-Mogg Accuses Carlson of Verging on Defending Hitler in Clash Over WWII and Ukraine

Jacob Rees-Mogg told Tucker Carlson he was "verging on defending Hitler" during a podcast recorded at the former Conservative minister's home.

The exchange, reported on 4 October, focused on Carlson's questions about why Britain entered the second world war. Carlson argued that Germany had a legitimate claim to parts of Poland and said Hitler had repeatedly said he did not want war with Britain, according to accounts of the interview The Guardian and The Jerusalem Post. Rees-Mogg, who lost his parliamentary seat in 2024, rejected that argument and defended Britain's decision to fight Nazi Germany.

Rees-Mogg said Germany would have invaded Britain if London had not gone to war. "Otherwise we'll be speaking German," he said. Carlson dismissed the warning. He answered "Who cares?" when pressed on the prospect of a British defeat, and added that a lot of people in Britain can't speak English now. The exchange was first detailed by The Telegraph.

The two men then argued about Russia and Ukraine. Carlson suggested the West was to blame for inviting aggression from Moscow. Rees-Mogg said Britain and its Western allies had to support Kyiv and deter Russian aggression. Deterrence here means using military support early to discourage a larger attack.

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, criticized Carlson on X for suggesting Britain should have allowed a Nazi takeover.

Carlson started his current show after leaving Fox News and has since interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rees-Mogg invited him for the home interview in his post-parliamentary role as a commentator and former minister.

The broader context here is why a debate about 1939 drew a response from a sitting ambassador. Carlson presents both German expansion and Russian aggression as reactions to Western actions. Rees-Mogg presents both as threats that needed to be stopped early. Second World War history is often used as shorthand in arguments about when to stand firm and when to stay out.