Significant controversy has emerged surrounding the scheduled participation of senior executives from the Tucker Carlson Network at an upcoming high-profile government conference in Qatar that will feature Iranian officials and speakers known for positions aligned with Tehran.
The Criticism Emerges
Right-wing influencer and writer Fischberger has publicly questioned why top figures from the conservative media network are set to appear at the Doha Forum, a major international conference funded and hosted by the Qatari government. The event is scheduled to take place on December 6 and 7.
Fischberger voiced his concerns directly on social media platform X, asking: "Why is Neil Patel — co-founder and CEO of the Tucker Carlson Network — speaking at a Qatari government conference on diplomacy and international business?" He further elaborated that while Tucker Carlson himself attending as a commentator might align with his brand, the participation of the network's CEO raises questions about the connection.
Conference Focus and Controversial Speakers
This year's Doha Forum program will heavily focus on Israel, Gaza, and Iran, with Fischberger noting that nearly half of the scheduled panels directly reference Israeli "crimes" in Gaza and Iran. According to his analysis published on Fisch Files website, all discussions appear to favor Qatari and Iranian talking points.
The conference agenda includes several controversial figures that have drawn criticism:
- Javad Zarif, Iran's former foreign minister, described by Fischberger as one of the regime's most prominent propagandists
- Wael al Dahdouh, head of Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau, who Fischberger claims is an alleged member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
- Qatar's prime minister and several other speakers characterized as anti-American
American Participation Raises Eyebrows
The inclusion of two American attendees has generated particular interest and scrutiny. Neil Patel, co-founder and chief executive of the Tucker Carlson Network, is listed to participate in his official capacity as head of the media operation. Additionally, Omeed Malik, the network's earliest investor and founder of 1789 Capital, is also scheduled to appear.
Fischberger suggested that Malik's participation could be justified given his role as founder of an investment firm, but Patel's presence as a media executive at a government-funded event in Doha raises significant questions about the nature of the involvement.
Across the two-day schedule, sessions on Israel, Gaza, and Iran are set to dominate the forum, with panel titles including "The Gaza Reckoning", "Iran and the Changing Regional Security Environment", and "Reclaiming Agency in International Media." Notably, other global issues such as Russia, China, and energy markets appear to receive minimal attention according to the published program.
According to Fischberger's reporting, only two Western media outlets, CNN and Foreign Policy, are listed as media partners for the event, raising further questions about the limited Western participation in a forum addressing significant international issues.
