Ted Cruz gives even wilder justification for his Israel support in new Tucker Carlson clip
Senator Ted Cruz is backing Israel wholeheartedly in its war against Iran because of a passage in the Bible which tells Christians 'those who bless Israel will be blessed.'
In a heated back-and-forth with former Fox firebrand Tucker Carlson, Cruz attempted to justify why he has been calling for Trump to help overthrow the Iranian regime amid increasing anxiety over America's involvement in conflict in the Middle East.
'Growing up in Sunday school I was taught from the Bible, those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed,' he told Carlson.
Carlson had repeatedly humiliated Cruz with a series of 'gotcha' questions during the sit-down, which earlier culminated in a jaw dropping revelation from the politician that America was directly involved in 'carrying out military strikes' on Iran.
And Carlson again capitalized when Cruz began addressing theology, asking Cruz exactly where in the Bible was the verse he referenced.
'I can find it,' Cruz said. 'I don't have the scripture off the tip of my...' he said, urging Carlson to 'pull out [his] phone' to search for it.
'It's in Genesis,' Carlson said. 'You're quoting a Bible phrase you don't have context for, you don't know where in the Bible it is... that's your theology?'
Carlson continued, asking Cruz to clarify whether the Bible called for 'blessing the government of Israel.'
'I'm a Christian,' he said. 'I want to know what you're talking about... I'm confused.'
Cruz doubled down, explaining: 'Where does my support for Israel come from? Number one, because biblically we are commanded to support Israel... It doesn't say the government of Israel, it says the nation of Israel. So that's in the Bible. As a Christian, I believe that.'
Tensions escalated as the two men spoke over the top of one another and Carlson said: 'Hold on, you're a senator and now you're throwing out theology. I'm a Christian and I'm allowed to weigh in on this.
'We're commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel? Define Israel. This is important. Are you kidding? This is a majority Christian country.'
Cruz hit back: 'Define Israel? Do you not know what Israel is? That would be the country you've asked like 49 questions about.'
'So that's what Genesis - that's what God is talking about?' Carlson said. 'Is that the current borders, the current leadership, he's talking about the political entity of Israel.
'Is the nation God is referring to in Genesis the same country Benjamin Netanyahu is running now?'
Carlson has made no secret of his disdain for Trump 'abandoning his America First policies' amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
His position on the conflict has put him at odds with the president, who is locked in tense crisis talks with his inner circle as he debates ramping up US involvement in the conflict.
Cruz's statement that America has been 'carrying out military strikes' already was a major departure from everything the Trump administration had said about US involvement up until this stage - a point that was not lost on Carlson.
'You said Israel was [carrying out strikes],' Carlson said, to which Cruz responded: 'I've said we. Israel is leading them, but we're supporting them.'
'You're breaking news here,' Carlson said. 'The US government last night denied... on behalf of Trump, that we're acting on Israel's behalf in any offensive capacity.'
Cruz appeared to backpedal on his statement, then telling Carlson: 'No, we're not bombing them. Israel is bombing them.'
Carlson said: 'You just said we were. This is high stakes. You're a senator. If you're saying the United States is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.'
The conservative commentator's earlier line of questioning had put Cruz under pressure and highlighted just how little he knows about the region.
'How many people live in Iran, by the way?' Carlson had asked.
'I don't know the population,' Cruz accepted, much to Carlson's horror as he quipped: 'At all?'
'You don't know the population of the people you're trying to topple?' Carlson added.
Cruz tried to turn the tables back on Carlson, asking him for the number, to which the podcast host immediately responded: '92 million.'
'How could you not know that?' Carlson said. 'It's kind of relevant because you're calling for the overthrow of the government.'
By this stage, the men were shouting over the top of one another as Cruz frantically tried to defend himself, first arguing 'I don't sit around memorizing population tables', before adding: 'Why is it relevant whether it's 90 million or 80 million.'
Carlson, who appeared incredulous at the question, began to explain why he found it important 'if you don't know anything about the country', but was cut off by Cruz who said: 'I didn't say I don't know anything about Iran.'
'Okay,' Carlson countered, 'what is the ethnic mix of Iran?'
Cruz stumbled over his answer, naming Persians and 'predominately Shia' before he was cut off by Carlson, who said again: 'What percent? You don't know anything on Iran.'
Finally Cruz cracked, shouting: 'Okay, I'm not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran.'
Carlson said: 'You're the Senator who is calling for the overthrow of the government and you don't know anything about the country.'
Both Israel and Iran launched fresh strikes at each other overnight, as Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it launched a 'more powerful' new wave of missiles at Israel.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned: 'The battle begins... We will show the Zionists no mercy.'
Trump and Carlson have had a high-profile falling out amid Carlson's public criticism of the assault on Iran.
Trump wrote Monday night on Truth social: 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that,' IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'
Earlier in the day, he said: 'I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.'
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