The Tucker Carlson Show: Breaking News—Israel Shuts Down Christ’s Resurrection Site. Bishop Strickland & Tucker Respond.

Date: March 30, 2026
Guests: Bishop Joseph Strickland, hosted by Tucker Carlson
Topic: The closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday amid ongoing conflict, and a wide-ranging discussion on the ethics of war, the nature of Christianity, and speaking the truth in times of persecution.

Episode Overview

This special episode of The Tucker Carlson Show centers on the unprecedented closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities during Holy Week, as well as broader themes of morality in war, the current state of Christianity, and the courage required to speak truth in an age of misinformation. Bishop Joseph Strickland joins Tucker Carlson to reflect on recent events in Israel, Christian doctrine regarding violence and just war, and the importance of standing for truth even in the face of persecution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Closure of the Holy Sepulcher (00:34–05:48)

• The Moral Gravity:
  Bishop Strickland laments the closure of Christianity’s holiest site, asserting that it is not simply a logistical issue but a “tragic consequence of just how far off the mark really the world is at this point in so many ways” (00:44).
• Skepticism about Safety Justification:
  Tucker and Bishop Strickland are doubtful of the official justification (“safety”), noting the site remained open through two world wars.
  Tucker: “I wasn’t aware that the secular government of Israel owned the Church of the Holy Sepulcher... Where does this authority come from that you can just close someone else’s church?” (05:18)
• Totalitarianism & Power:
  Bishop Strickland decries the exercise of power for its own sake: “It’s basically totalitarian, saying, we’ve got the power, we’ve got the bombs, we can do what we want... That is about as scary as it gets to have that attitude.” (05:48)
• Historical Perspective:
  Bishop Strickland urges return to “foundational pillars of life and faith,” comparing our times to morally aberrant eras in the past (02:49–04:48).

2. The Spiritual War & Threat of Truth (08:01–10:54)

• Truth as the Real Threat:
  Tucker notes the symbolic nature of targeting Christian clergy. Bishop Strickland responds:
  “Truth is threatening. And if you think about the drama of Holy Week... Jesus of Nazareth stood before Pilate... and everyone was threatened by this Jesus, who we believe is truth incarnate... That’s what’s threatening to those who are not living by the truth.” (08:46)
• Livestreaming Masses as a Danger:
  Even a symbolic act by church leaders became intolerable, highlighting how “proclaiming truth... begins to cause people of good hearts... to say, wait a minute, what’s going on?” (09:45–10:54)

3. Morality and the Ethics of War (13:01–25:10)

• Violence Is Never the Answer:
  Both agree that destruction of civilian life is never morally justified.
  Bishop Strickland: “The large scale destruction of civilian lives is never morally justified. If I’m a broken record making that point, I believe I need to be.” (25:10)
• Just War Theory Explained:
  In response to Tucker’s question, Bishop Strickland breaks down the criteria for a just war: must be for self-defense against a real threat, proportionate, not preemptive, avoids civilian harm, and must have a likelihood of success. He doubts the current conflict in Israel qualifies on any point (17:15–22:06).
• U.S. Threats Against Iran:
  Tucker raises recent U.S. government threats to destroy Iran’s civil infrastructure. Bishop Strickland condemns such strategies:
  “To directly do that is wrong... Going back to that basic principle… any time civilian life is devastated, it’s not morally... justified.” (25:10)

4. Christianity, Violence, and Truth (28:24–36:11)

• Misuse of Christianity to Justify Violence:
  Strickland refutes Christian leaders citing Old Testament violence to justify modern violence:
  “Jesus Christ. If we claim, which I do... we have to look to him. Yes, in the Old Testament there are many examples of destructive power, but that is not the world that we live in. We believe that Jesus Christ has redeemed everything.” (29:20)
• Holy Week as the Ultimate Model:
  Tucker contrasts the messianic expectation of a violent liberator with Christ’s peaceful self-sacrifice:
  “He doesn't come in on a warhorse, he comes in on a donkey and then submits to being tortured to death. Because the victory is larger than a military victory. It's a final victory, it's a spiritual victory.” (36:04)
  Strickland: “Tucker, you are spot on. That’s why I mentioned earlier... Holy Week is a week of drama... The whole passion story of Christ is the elements there.” (36:11)

5. Speaking Truth & Facing Persecution (44:46–80:13)

• Case Study: Carrie Prejean Bowler
  Tucker and Strickland discuss the expulsion of Carrie Prejean Bowler from a presidential task force for speaking about innocent lives in Gaza and refusing to endorse political Zionism.
  Strickland: “Kerry was removed because she was speaking truth, that the powers that be didn't want to be spoken.” (45:41)
• Backlash and Support:
  Bishop Strickland describes an overwhelmingly positive response to his public support of Bowler:
  “There is a worldwide famine for the truth. Thankfully, it's there. We can find it, but we have to fight for it sometimes.” (53:26)
• On Growing Persecution:
  In response to Tucker, Strickland affirms:
  “I do believe that... any stance for truth, the real truth, is being persecuted because the powers of chaos... are growing. What is our response as Christians?... We stay with the truth. We don't compromise... but we should trust in the power of the truth.” (75:23)

6. Hope, Evil, and God’s Purpose (59:01–74:39)

• God is Working, Despite Darkness:
  Bishop Strickland says,
  "I see goodness and beauty and truth changing hearts and moving people in all kinds of ways… We can never despair. We should be people of hope and acknowledge the evil that's there, but believe that God is with us. Jesus Christ prevails as truth prevails." (59:31)
• Reality of Evil:
  Strickland affirms the influence of spiritual blindness:
  "I truly believe that the delusion of evil has many in its grasp in the world today... When we give in to ignoring the truth, we really are giving in to the power of evil." (69:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Closure:
  "The closure of [the Church of the Holy Sepulcher]... and not allowing the procession of Palm Sunday is a tragic consequence of just how far off the mark really the world is..." — Bishop Strickland (00:44)
• Historical Irony:
  "The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was not closed during the last two world wars..." — Tucker Carlson (04:48)
• On the nature of truth and power:
  "Truth is threatening... Those who are promoting all of these things, closure of holy sites and attack of innocent people, they are definitely threatened by the truth..." — Bishop Strickland (08:46)
• Central Moral Principle:
  "The large scale destruction of civilian lives is never morally justified." — Bishop Strickland (25:10, and throughout)
• On Christian witness:
  "If people are calling themselves Christians... we have to look to [Christ]... when voices are saying we can destroy civilians violently and say that it’s moral because we’re claiming to be Christian, that’s nonsensical and it’s offensive to Christ himself." (29:20)
• Tucker’s summary of Holy Week:
  "Jesus doesn’t come in on a warhorse, he comes in on a donkey and then submits to being tortured to death. Because the victory is larger than a military victory. It's a spiritual victory." (36:04)
• On persecution and truth:
  "We don't become violent in the face of violence. We don't embrace hatred... if as Christ died in service to the truth... if that’s what it takes to stand for the truth, that I sacrifice my life in this world, it begins to remind us that life is not limited to this world. We believe in everlasting life." (75:23)

Important Timestamps

• 00:34 – Episode proper begins; first question about the closure of the Holy Sepulcher.
• 02:49 – Bishop Strickland emphasizes the foundational Christian opposition to civilian destruction.
• 04:48 – Carlson doubts Israeli government’s authority over religious sites.
• 08:46 – Strickland: “Truth is threatening.”
• 13:01 – Discussion begins on the “power of the world” versus truth.
• 17:15 – Just war theory explained.
• 25:10 – Strickland denounces targeting civilian infrastructure in war.
• 29:20 – Refutation of Old Testament violence justification.
• 36:04 – Holy Week as the model for Christian non-violence (Tucker).
• 45:41 – The case of Carrie Prejean Bowler’s expulsion from a White House task force.
• 53:26 – Bishop Strickland discusses public response to supporting Bowler.
• 59:31 – Hope and signs of God working amid evil.
• 69:17 – Spiritual blindness and evil in global affairs.
• 75:23 – Persecution of truth-tellers and the Christian response.
• 80:13 – Episode closes.

Concluding Thoughts

Throughout the conversation, both Tucker Carlson and Bishop Strickland reflect on the necessity of moral clarity during historical crises. They repeatedly return to the principle that innocent life must be protected, violence cannot be justified in the name of expediency, and truth is a force powerful enough to threaten corrupt worldly powers. Bishop Strickland encourages Christians and all seekers of truth to hold fast to their convictions—even as persecution intensifies—by looking to Christ’s example during Holy Week: a model not of conquest by force, but of ultimate victory through sacrificial love and unwavering fidelity to the truth.

“Truth lasts. Truth prevails, truth continues because of the essence of what it is. It is truth.” — Bishop Strickland (45:41)