International fans who traveled to the U.S. for the World Cup had been "preprogrammed to believe that America was a bad place," Dr. Ben Carson told Newsmax on Thursday.
Appearing on "Wake Up America," the former Housing and Urban Development secretary said the tournament gave millions of foreign visitors a firsthand look at what he called the freedoms, hospitality, and optimism that define the United States.
"It was just wonderful to see the foreigners having so much fun because they have been preprogrammed to believe that America was a bad place, that the people weren't happy, that it wasn't free," Carson told co-hosts Marc Lotter and Sharla McBride.
Instead, Carson said, visitors found "exactly the opposite" — friendly Americans, welcoming communities, and everyday conveniences that became viral sensations on social media, from free drink refills and air conditioning to popular destinations such as Buc-ee's, Costco, and Chick-fil-A.
Carson said the biggest takeaway was not what tourists discovered about American food or stores, but what they experienced from the American people.
"Mostly, it was about the American people who were free and enjoying their freedom," he said.
Carson argued that many foreign perceptions of the United States have been shaped by media narratives that focus disproportionately on the nation's flaws.
"There's so many of these mainstream newsrooms that are run by people who don't have an appreciation for our country," Carson said. "They've been indoctrinated to believe that we're mostly bad, and they want to teach that to our people."
The retired neurosurgeon said America's history should be taught honestly but in full, rather than emphasizing only its darkest chapters.
"We have an incredible history in this country, and we need to teach our children all of it — the good, the bad, and the ugly," Carson said. "But there's a heck of a lot more good than there is bad and ugly."
Carson pointed to his American Cornerstone Institute's "Little Patriots" initiative, which seeks to promote civic education and patriotism among young students.
He warned that Marxist ideology has gained influence in education and argued Americans should push back against efforts that encourage children to view their country negatively.
"We need to make sure that our children are not being indoctrinated to hate our country," he said.
McBride cited a recent survey showing 81% of Americans felt a sense of pride seeing international visitors enjoy the United States during the World Cup.
Carson said the event showcased America at its best and offered an opportunity to strengthen both international goodwill and patriotism at home.
"We live in an absolutely terrific country," Carson said. "This demonstrated it for everybody. And I hope we will do more of this."
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