Newsweek senior editor-at-large Josh Hammer came under fire Wednesday after publishing a column that some critics mischaracterized as calling for harm against Tucker Carlson \u2014 an accusation Hammer says is rooted in bad faith and deliberate misinterpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his Daily Mail piece, Hammer criticized Carlson for his recent interview with controversial commentator Nick Fuentes, arguing that Carlson\u2019s platforming of Fuentes\u2019 \u201crepugnant beliefs\u201d undermines what Hammer described as \u201cthe forces of civilizational sanity on the MAGA Right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The line that drew the most attention, however, came at the end of the article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe fox is now comfortably ensconced in the hen house. And unless the fox is neutralized, the victim could be the entire extant GOP coalition itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Critics \u2014 many of them fellow conservatives \u2014 quickly pounced on the word \u201cneutralized\u201d<\/em>, accusing Hammer of reckless rhetoric, particularly in light of recent violence targeting right-leaning public figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conservative Figures Sound the Alarm Over Dangerous Climate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Among those voicing concern was The Blaze host Jason Whitlock, who called the phrasing \u201cirresponsible,\u201d noting that the statement came just weeks after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. \u201cJosh Hammer calls for Tucker Carlson to be neutralized,\u201d Whitlock wrote on X. \u201cThis is a Keith Olbermann-style Twitter post, not something that should be published by a news outlet. We just witnessed the assassination of Charlie Kirk. This is irresponsible by the Daily Mail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n