Right-wing anti-Israeli media personalities Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens have "significantly increased their focus on Israel" in recent months, a new study that analysed thousands of videos shared on social media using artificial intelligence found.
The study, published on Sunday by the Jewish People Policy Institute, found that there was a marked escalation in Carlson and Owens' anti-Israel rhetoric, as well as Owens' "explicit antisemitism."
In recent months, both media personalities increased the frequency and intensity of negative content, according to the study.
The growing obsessiveness towards Israel
Over the past six months, the two influencers' content saw a sharp increase in the number of mentions of Israel, Jews, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at a higher rate than other issues such as the Ukraine-Russia war, China tensions, or Iran.Israel became a "central, and at times dominant," topic in both their videos, with Owens starting in February and Carlson in August.
Tone, sentiment towards Israel worsens
JPPI's artificial intelligence-based analysis found that Tucker Carlson's rate of negative content about Israel rose sharply over the past six months compared with the preceding six months.Over 96% of Owens' references to Israel were classified as negative, and she often used harsh and hostile language, JPPI noted.
The primary change was quantitative. JPPI found a significant increase in the volume of negative content about Israel, rather than a shift in the frequency with which posts were framed negatively.
Such content included videos discussing comparisons between Israel and Hamas, using the term "genocide," accusing Israel of deliberately killing children, and the spreading of conspiratorial narratives regarding Israeli or Jewish influence on the US government, JPPI noted.
Manifestation of Carlson, Owens's antisemitism
The JPPI study did not find explicit and consistent antisemitic expressions by Carlson under the IHRA definition of antisemitism.However, Carlson consistently offers an extensive platform to known antisemitic figures and personalities, including Holocaust deniers and extremists, such as Nick Fuentes, and has not set clear boundaries or voiced effective criticism of their views or comments.
Owens, however, is more explicit, the study noted.
The analysis found that 45% of videos in which Jews were mentioned were antisemitic in their angle.
This increased in the past six months, doubling in frequency, to approximately 75%, JPPI found.
Such content included blunt generalizations about Jews, including describing them as a "cult," sharing claims of "Jewish supremacy," and presenting accusations of control, deceit, and manipulation, alongside recurring claims that accusations of antisemitism are a "Zionist diversion tactic."
Growing anti-Israel discourse intensifies on political Right
JPPI found empirical evidence that the intensification of anti-Israel discourse in the US is no longer limited to the far Left or political activist fringes.The study found that such discourse seeps into populist right-wing and MAGA camps through influencers who are having a deep impact on public opinion.
Further, the use of terms such as "genocide," which was previously found mainly in far Left discourse, is growing within the lexicon of prominent figures on the Right.
"Even on the American far Right, antisemitism is already visible, and 'on the table,'" JPPI Director-General Shuki Friedman said.
"The data should serve as a glaring warning light for Israel and the Israeli leadership regarding the support it can mobilize from the right, today and certainly in the future. Only decisive action that provides a counterweight to this extremism can preserve this vital base of support in the US," he added.