Ted Cruz Criticizes Tucker Carlson for Speaking at Conference with His Former Advisers

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) criticized ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Thursday for participating in a conference in Qatar, which also lists several of Cruzs former national security advisers as attendees.

Upon learning that Carlson would speak at the Doha Forum in Qatars capital this weekend, Cruz labeled him #QatarFirst.

However, social media users quickly highlighted that Cruzs former national security adviser, Victoria Coates, who served him from 2013 to 2016 before joining President Donald Trumps administration in 2019, is also part of the event.

Coates is slated to join a panel discussion on U.S. Middle East strategy on Friday in collaboration with the Atlantic Council, an organization Cruz has previously engaged with.

Another former Cruz adviser, Fred Fleitz, is also on the forums schedule. Fleitz, currently vice chair of the America First Policy Institute and a Newsmax contributor, was a member of Cruzs 2016 National Security Coalition.

The conference lineup further includes Omeed Malik, a 2023 donor to Cruz; Donald Trump Jr.; Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz; U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whittaker; U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye Thomas Barrack; and Breitbart Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle.

The event will feature both Trump allies and notable liberal figures, including former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire Bill Gates, and multiple CNN correspondents.

Sources:

• AWKWARD: Ted Cruz Attacks Tucker Carlson for Speaking at Conference Featuring His Own Former Advisers