The Family Leader’s evangelical summit in Des Moines Friday was billed as a pivotal event for Christian conservatives, attracting six Republican presidential candidates to defend their platforms and pitch themselves in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.
But throughout the day, it was the moderator — former Fox News host Tucker Carlson — who steered those discussions, frequently refocusing the conversation on his priorities and confronting several Republican hopefuls on tense issues.
His commentary and lines of questioning at times garnered more applause from the crowd than the candidates themselves.
Here’s three moments that stuck out during the day.
More:GOP presidential candidates navigate cheers and jeers at Family Leadership Summit
In tense interview with Asa Hutchinson, Tucker Carlson asks ‘how many COVID shots did you take?’
The former Arkansas governor was often on defense throughout his interview with Carlson, as the host questioned him on his record and stance on gender-affirming care restrictions and his leadership of the state during the pandemic.
Carlson asked if Hutchinson had been vaccinated against the virus.
“How many COVID shots did you take, and how do you feel about it now?” Carlson asked Hutchinson.
“How many did you take?” Hutchinson replied.
“Zero,” Carlson responded, to cheers. “But I think it’s fair, and I can see you recoiled when I asked you that question. And I don’t think, honestly, you should be asking people about their medical care, but that became part of public policy.”
Crowd boos Mike Pence after he says U.S. should back war in Ukraine
In an extensive back-and-forth with Carlson, Pence ardently defended his stance that the United States has an interest in supplying resources to Ukraine.
He noted his two trips to the country, having met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and religious leaders, and got pushback from Carlson and members of the crowd alike.
“I believe that it is in the interest of the United States of America to continue to give the Ukrainian military resources that they need to repel a Russian invasion and restore their sovereignty,” Pence said, prompting boos from the crowd.
Tucker Carlson: ‘Ethanol wrecked my chainsaw’
An early offhanded comment from Carlson about one of Iowa’s key industries drew laughs from the crowd and a quick transition back to the main topic from the event’s organizer.
“Ethanol wrecked my chainsaw, by the way,” Carlson said after talking about his appreciation for Iowa, remarking that he’s had to replace the carburetor “every year” for the last few years.
“We need to move on!” responded Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, as some in the crowd laughed.
Galen Bacharier covers politics and the Trump campaign in Iowa for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.
