Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sharply criticized Tucker Carlson on Monday over comments the conservative commentator made during a recent interview about Adolf Hitler, World War II, Britain and Russia.

During an episode of his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson played portions of Carlson's interview with former British Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and argued that Carlson's remarks reflected a broader hostility toward the United States and its Western allies.

Cruz accused Carlson of effectively defending Hitler and Nazi Germany, at one point sarcastically asking whether Carlson had "gone full Nazi." Cruz then played an exchange in which Carlson questioned whether Britain was better off after defeating Nazi Germany in World War II.

"We did the right thing," Rees-Mogg said when Carlson questioned Britain's decision to fight Hitler.

Carlson then asked whether Britain was a "better country" as a result of defeating Hitler. When Rees-Mogg responded that otherwise Britons would be speaking German, Carlson replied, "Who cares?" and said it would be preferable for Britain to have at least a European language spoken in the country.

Rees-Mogg rejected the argument and said Britons wanted to continue speaking English.

Cruz also highlighted another portion of the interview in which Carlson argued that Hitler had not wanted war with Britain and had repeatedly expressed that position publicly and through diplomatic channels.

Rees-Mogg challenged Carlson's characterization, saying he did not place the same trust in Hitler and accused Carlson of "verging on defending Hitler." Carlson responded sarcastically that he was "just a secret Nazi," adding that he was "hardly a public Nazi."

Cruz said the exchange demonstrated what he described as Carlson's willingness to give authoritarian leaders the benefit of the doubt.

"Yes, Tucker. The U.K. is better off for winning World War II. America is better off for winning World War II. And the world would be much worse off if the Nazis had won World War II," Cruz said, referring to a response he had previously posted publicly.

The senator also criticized Carlson's discussion of Russia, pointing to Carlson's assertion that Russia has a "much larger economy" than Britain. Rees-Mogg disputed that characterization, arguing that Russia's economy is smaller despite the country's larger population and natural resources.

Cruz accused Carlson of having an ideological agenda aimed at undermining the United States, free enterprise and the Constitution. He also criticized Carlson's views on Israel, Jews, Christian Zionism and Russia, arguing that his rhetoric ultimately benefits figures and movements hostile to the West.

"Tucker is all in on defending the Nazis against the West," Cruz said later in the podcast.

Carlson did not explicitly say in the portion played by Cruz that he wished Hitler had won World War II, despite Cruz introducing the clip by making that accusation. The exchange instead centered on whether Britain benefited from defeating Nazi Germany and whether Hitler genuinely sought to avoid war with Britain.

Cruz concluded by calling Carlson's rhetoric "profoundly dangerous" and encouraged listeners to evaluate the commentator's remarks for themselves.