How Tucker Carlson’s latest claim misses the truth about America’s strongest ally.
Tucker Carlson wants his viewers to believe that Israel is “a small country with no resources” and “no strategic value.” It’s a talking point meant to sound populist and “America First.” But the facts tell a different story. Far from being a burden, Israel is one of America’s most valuable allies, protecting U.S. soldiers, powering American innovation, and creating thousands of American jobs.
The Claim
On his popular online show, Carlson has accused Republican leaders of “betraying their voters” by “obsessing over Israel.” It’s part of a broader effort to frame foreign alliances as costly distractions from domestic priorities. Carlson’s position echoes the growing isolationist wing of the right, which argues that U.S. aid abroad weakens America at home.
But when it comes to Israel, that argument collapses under its own weight.
The Reality: Israel Makes America Stronger
Israel doesn’t drain U.S. strength; it multiplies it. The U.S.–Israel partnership delivers real returns in security, technology, and economic power.
Defending U.S. interests:
In July 2025, Israel’s long-range strike on Iranian air-defense systems using American F-15 and F-35 jets crippled Tehran’s missile network. The attack advanced U.S. security objectives across the Middle East without risking a single American life. As the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted, by confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Israel protects not only itself but American forces and energy interests worldwide.
Building America’s arsenal:
Joint defense programs like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow aren’t just Israeli assets; they’re U.S. success stories. Built with American companies such as Lockheed Martin, these systems create thousands of jobs and keep the U.S. military on the cutting edge. The Council on Foreign Relations calls them “a model for 21st-century defense cooperation.”
Israel’s Economic Powerhouse
Trade between the two nations has grown tenfold since 1985. Israeli-founded companies now anchor U.S. innovation hubs from Silicon Valley to Boston. In New York City alone, 590 Israeli companies have created nearly 30,000 direct jobs and added $12.4 billion to the city’s economy, according to the U.S.–Israel Business Alliance. The average salary among those jobs is more than $160,000.
Aaron Kaplowitz, the alliance’s president, puts it plainly: “Israeli innovation is indispensable to New York and to the world.”
That innovation pipeline flows straight into America’s tech core. Intel, Google, IBM, and Cisco all operate major research centers in Israel. Intel executive Greg Slater credited Israeli engineers with pioneering the chip-efficiency breakthroughs that saved the company’s global operations. As Bill Gates once told Foreign Affairs, “The innovation going on in Israel is critical to the future of the technology business.”
America’s Eyes and Ears Abroad
Beyond technology and trade, Israel amplifies American power. Its intelligence network gives Washington early warning against Iranian, Russian, and Chinese activity across the region. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies notes that the U.S. gets far more than it gives in this relationship: access, deterrence, and regional stability that no other ally provides.
The Takeaway
Carlson’s narrative of “no strategic value” ignores the facts. Israel is not a client state; it’s a partner of strength and purpose. It fights America’s enemies, fuels its economy, and advances the very technologies that define modern life.
In an age of rising isolationism, Americans should remember a simple truth: supporting Israel isn’t charity. It’s strategy.
