Poland Demands Apology from Tucker Carlson for WWII Claims

Poland has issued a strong request for an apology from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson following remarks made about Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland and the United Kingdom’s decision to engage in World War II. Bogdan Klich, the charge d’affaires at the Polish Embassy in Washington, D.C., has accused Carlson of being “an apologist for Adolf Hitler” due to comments questioning the U.K.’s involvement in the war against Nazi Germany. Newsweek sought feedback from the Tucker Carlson Network.

What Did Tucker Carlson Say?

In a podcast discussion with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former British Cabinet minister, Carlson noted Hitler’s grievances over territory that was transferred to Poland after World War I. He questioned the British role in World War II, suggesting that Hitler’s moves weren’t random. “Hitler said that 15 percent of Poland was once Germany and given to Poland at the Treaty of Versailles,” Carlson stated, referencing the 1919 agreement ending WWI. “The idea that Hitler just randomly rolled into Poland is a lie.” He further claimed the U.K. was uninvolved initially, arguing they fought a war “they still pretend was a good idea.” Rees-Mogg countered by describing the U.K.’s participation as “fundamental; it was the classic good-versus-evil” and “we did the right thing.” When asked if the U.K. was better for fighting Hitler, Rees-Mogg affirmed, “otherwise, we’d be speaking German.” Carlson remarked, “Who cares?…it would be nice to have at least a European language spoken in your country” to which Rees-Mogg retorted that Carlson was “verging on defending Hitler.”

What Did the Polish Embassy Say?

In a statement dated October 5, Klich expressed outrage over Carlson’s podcast dialogue. He deemed Carlson’s assertion that Hitler said 15 percent of Poland was once Germany and awarded to Warsaw at the Treaty of Versailles a “colossal insult” to war victims, including American servicemen. Klich highlighted historical events: in 1938, the U.K. and France accepted Germany’s annexation of Sudetenland within a pledge for peaceful resolution. By March 1939, German forces occupied Czechoslovakia. Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, nullifying a prior non-aggression pact with Warsaw. Klich emphasized the Allied Forces’ declaration against Nazi Germany “was not merely a political obligation” but crucial as Hitler “was driven by the idea of conquering the world.” He accused Carlson of becoming an apologist for Adolf Hitler, demanding an immediate public retraction and apology for “deceitful and disgraceful statements.”

Who Else Has Responded?

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas and critic of Carlson, commented online: “Yes, Tucker, the UK is better off for winning WWII,” adding “America is better off for winning WWII. And the world would be much worse off if the Nazis had won WWII. This is not complicated.” Additionally, the Berlin-based Polish Institute of Culture and Research issued a statement on X, asserting that “offering an apology for Hitler and Nazi Germany normalizes the use of historical grievances to justify contemporary aggression.” They stated it undermines human rights and principles supporting a rules-based international order.