Texas Senator Ted Cruz dug into the archives to get back at political commentator Tucker Carlson after the former Fox News host embarrassed him over his lack of knowledge on Iran . The two engaged in a tense debate over the US’s support for Israel against Iran, with Cruz now questioning whether Carlson’s anger at the prospect of President Trump joining the conflict.

The Texas senator found an article from The Atlantic in 2012 with the headline, ‘Tucker Carlson: “Iran Deserves to Be Annihilated,”‘ and captioned the post, ‘Wonder what changed? [thinking emoji].’ Cruz’s pointed post came after Carlson questioned his unequivocal support for Israel during an interview on The Tucker Carlson Network. Carlson managed to embarrass Cruz when he grilled the Texas lawmaker about the population size and ethnic makeup of Iran, with Cruz unable to answer.

The Atlantic article, written by Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, used a quote from Carlson that stated, ‘I do think, I’m sure I’m the lone voice in saying this, that Iran deserves to be annihilated. I think they’re lunatics. I think they’re evil.’ Goldberg slammed Carlson in the article for using war-mongering rhetoric and ‘inhuman’ language that ‘sets back America’s interests.’

Carlson then issued a statement explaining that he was ‘tongue-tied’ when he made the controversial remarks, noting that he was ‘actually on the opposite side’ and hoped that former President Barack Obama wouldn’t attack Iran. ‘I think attacking could be a disaster for the US and am worried that Obama will do it, for fear of seeming weak before an election,’ Carlson said. He added that he believed the Iranian government was ‘awful’ and deserved ‘to be crushed,’ but after the war in Iraq, the US should refrain from attacking the Middle East.

Goldberg also included an emailed response from Carlson after the article was published that read, ‘I was arguing that an attack on Iran might cause a massive spike in energy prices that could tank our economy.’ ‘In other words, slow down — just the opposite of what you claim I said. Watch the [expletive] tape.” New York Magazine also published a criticism of Carlson after his comments, arguing he was calling for genocide in Iran.

The interview that sparked the initial controversy was from a now-canceled Fox News program called Red Eye. Commentator Andrew Levy sarcastically asked Carlson if the US was the only country that was allowed to make ‘preemptive strikes.’ Carlson laughed and responded, ‘I know you’re sort of kidding, but I agree with that.’ He added that he believed the US was the only country with the moral authority to launch preemptive strikes. Carlson has since been vocal against US intervention in the region.

He pushed Cruz in an interview, exposing the Texas senator for not knowing the population of Iran. ‘You don’t know the population of the people you’re trying to topple?’ Carlson fired back in response. ‘How could you not know that?’ he added. ‘It’s kind of relevant because you’re calling for the overthrow of the government.’

Carlson also pressed Cruz on a Bible verse when the senator said that his support for Israel is because ‘Growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible, those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.’ Carlson was stunned by Cruz’s answer and asked a follow-up about where in the Bible he saw the verse. ‘You’re quoting a Bible phrase you don’t have context for, you don’t know where in the Bible it is… that’s your theology?’ Carlson pressed.

Cruz also came under fire for telling Carlson that the US was involved in ‘carrying out military strikes,’ a departure from the stance the White House held. ‘You’re breaking news here,’ Carlson responded. ‘The US government last night denied… on behalf of Trump, that we’re acting on Israel’s behalf in any offensive capacity.’ Cruz then clarified that Israel, not the US, is bombing Iran, but that America supports Israel.

The Texas senator has defended his beliefs since the fiery interview, slamming Carlson on his own podcast as ‘bat crap crazy’ on foreign policy. ‘He’s gone off the rails. He is suddenly a hardcore isolationist,’ Cruz said. Allegations then swirled that Carlson’s views shifted after taking money from the Qatar government, which the co-founder of his network, Neil Patel, denied in a statement posted on X. DailyMail.com reached out to The Tucker Carlson Network for comment on Cruz’s recent X post, but didn’t immediately hear back.