Kirk Cameron responds to Carlson-Cruz debate on Israel, deletes clip

  • A short podcast exchange sparked a debate about scripture and modern politics.
  • Kirk Cameron, 54, offered a reading of Genesis and Romans and later removed a shared clip.
  • People in faith communities are parsing scripture, history, and intent with care.
  • The episode and a deleted X clip left viewers looking for context and calm conversation.

Kirk Cameron, the 54-year-old actor and evangelist, pushed back on a viral exchange about what it means to “bless Israel” and later removed a shared clip from his social feed. The moment landed in living rooms and church halls alike, prompting people to talk about scripture, history, and how words land in a tense moment. Neighbors, small groups, and online communities responded with curiosity more than heat, asking what the texts actually say and what they mean for ordinary lives.

In a Sept. 5 podcast episode titled “The Shocking Truth About Public Schools,” Cameron engaged with a now-viral conversation between Tucker Carlson and Sen. Ted Cruz. The exchange included a reference to Genesis 12:3 and a clear recollection of Sunday school teachings from several guests. “As a Christian, growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed,” Cruz said.

Carlson asked whether that promise applies to the modern nation with its current borders and leaders, and said, “I think most people understand that line in Genesis to refer to the Jewish people, God’s chosen people,” while Cruz argued the promise applies to the modern state. Cameron, listening and reading, told listeners he thought both men missed some nuance in the text. “I know the verse that Tucker Carlson’s talking about in Genesis actually doesn’t say ‘Israel,’” he said.

Cameron moved into a reading of Romans 9 and quoted a passage as he reflected aloud: “For not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people.” He acknowledged the line “sounds like it contradicts” the simpler reading and tried to untangle lineage, faith, and promise in plain speech that many listeners found grounding. His focus was pastoral: urging people to study the surrounding chapters rather than leap to headlines.

He urged listeners to read Romans Chapters 9 through 11 and the book of Hebrews for context, suggesting the conversation has real-world consequences as people interpret scripture in a heated time. In a passage that caught attention, Cameron said the modern state was “recreated through some political operatives.” The phrasing led to questions and prompted him to take down a clip he had shared on X the next day.

The clip was shared on Cameron’s X account on Sept. 15 but was deleted sometime the following day, and it is unclear why. News outlets reached out to Cameron for comment and noted they would update readers if a response came. In the meantime, small congregations and study groups have used the discussion as an opportunity to read the texts together and reflect quietly on history and faith.

Best known within Christian circles for roles in films like the Left Behind series and Fireproof, Cameron has been active in community events as well, including a recent children’s story hour at the Library of Congress. That work sits alongside the conversations sparked by his podcast and reminds readers that public figures often prompt local, personal conversations about belief and belonging. For many people touched by the episode, the next small win is a calm, face-to-face discussion with someone across the table.