On April 20, 2026, Tucker Carlson released a video with his brother, Buckley Carlson, suggesting that President Donald Trump is effectively controlled by Jewish donors—especially Miriam Adelson—and is therefore more loyal to Israel and Jews than to Christians. As supposed proof, Tucker claimed Trump “attacked” Jesus but would never criticize Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rabbi Schneerson was the late leader of Chabad-Lubavitch, an international Hasidic movement.

None of this claim withstands scrutiny.

The “Attack on Jesus” That Wasn’t

Tucker’s claim traces back to a single social media post from April 12, 2026. Trump shared an image of himself in robes healing a man. Many viewers—particularly Christians—found a resemblance to Jesus and found the imagery inappropriate.

When asked about it, Trump said he was being depicted as a doctor, not as Jesus. He nevertheless deleted the post.

Trump is not known for deleting posts under pressure, yet he removed this one after Christian backlash. That decision reflects an awareness of Christian sensitivities and a willingness to respond to them. Whatever one thinks of the original image, the sequence of events does not support the idea of hostility toward Christianity.

Why the Schneerson Comparison Doesn’t Work

Tucker’s comparison to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson is built on a hypothetical. Schneerson passed away in 1994. There is no real-world scenario in which Trump would be expected to “attack” him.

Beyond that, Schneerson’s worldview aligned with Trump’s positions: American strength, energy independence, and concern about regimes like Iran that challenge U.S. stability and global order. The contrast Tucker draws depends on ignoring that overlap and treating a respected religious figure as if he were a contemporary political opponent.

Family Ties Are Not Political Control

Trump should be expected to have some affinity for Judaism and the Jewish people—it would be odd if he didn’t. His daughter, Ivanka Trump, converted to Judaism in 2009 before marrying Jared Kushner. They have three children and are connected to the Chabad-Lubavitch community, where they sometimes attend synagogue, including on Shabbat.

These are family relationships. They explain familiarity with Jewish life and institutions, not divided loyalties or outside control. Political leaders routinely have personal ties that span religions, cultures, and national backgrounds. Treating those ties as evidence of political capture is absurd.

What a $100 Million Donation Does—and Doesn’t Do

Miriam Adelson reportedly contributed around $100 million to Trump 2024 presidential campaign. That figure is large, but it does not function as a purchase of presidential authority.

Campaign finance law in the United States places clear boundaries on how money is raised and used. Donations go to campaigns and aligned political committees, not to a candidate personally. They buy access and the opportunity to advocate for preferred policies. They do not create a mechanism for directing decisions from outside the government.

The practical test is whether a president follows a donor’s agenda even when it conflicts with his own stated position. On that measure, the “control” claim runs into immediate problems.

Trump Has Broken with Adelson on Israel Policy

Adelson has long supported the idea that Israel should annex Judea and Samaria, also referred to as the West Bank. Trump has taken a different position.

In September 2025, he stated plainly: “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank… It’s not going to happen.”

That statement was direct and unambiguous. It addressed one of the most contentious issues in Israeli policy and rejected a position associated with one of his largest supporters. That directly contradicts the idea that he is taking instructions from her or the Israeli government.

Who Holds Leverage in U.S.–Israel Decisions

Events in 2025 further illustrate how decision-making actually works. During Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, Trump ordered Israeli aircraft to turn back while en route to strike Iranian targets. Israel complied.

Moments like that clarify the balance of power in the relationship. The United States is a superpower with global military reach, and its president has significant influence over allied actions. A country the size of New Jersey with 10 million people does not dictate the decisions of the world’s dominant superpower.

Shared Policy Is Not Foreign Control

The interests of Israel, a Western society in the Middle East, overlap with American interests on many issues. The two countries share enemies, intelligence, tech, and military capabilities. They also share cultural interests rooted in Judeo-Christian values and history, with Israel protecting many Christian holy sites.

Tucker has repeatedly accused Trump of being manipulated by Israel into attacking Iran, despite Trump’s numerous and explicit statements to the contrary. Most recently, on April 20, 2026, Trump tweeted: “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran,” and once again confirmed that he launched the war due to his longstanding policy since the 1980s that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

Agreement between countries is common in international alliances. It does not require a conspiracy theory.

Trump’s Record on Christian Concerns

Claims that Trump is indifferent or hostile to Christianity contradicts his actual record in office.

In February 2026, he signed an executive order establishing a task force focused on combating anti-Christian discrimination and unlawful targeting of Christians within government. His administration also issued pardons to Christian pro-life activists who had been prosecuted under the Biden administration. In January 2026, he deployed roughly 100 U.S. troops to Nigeria to assist efforts against Islamist groups responsible for attacks on Christian communities.

Those actions reflect a pattern of engagement with issues that matter to many Christians, both domestically and internationally.

Takeaway

Tucker Carlson keeps hunting for wild conspiracy theories to turn perfectly simple, mundane things—like family ties, campaign donations, and standard ally overlaps—into evidence of secret Jewish control over Trump. This is just the latest chapter in Tucker’s tired, perpetual “Get Israel” agenda, where he twists everyday politics to fit his grudge.

Sources

Tucker Carlson, JEM, The Rebbe, TabletMag, The New Arab, Center for American Progress, BBC, NPR, Times of Israel, Times of Israel, X, The White House, The White House, BBC, U.S. Embassy Jerusalem