He has been described by some media commentators and scholars as far-right, anti-immigrant and Islamophobic, and is a leading figure in a party faction that seeks to declare Norway a patriotic beacon. His pro-Russian views have been criticised by Norwegian conservatives. The Local Norway describes him as "one of Norway's most controversial anti-immigration politicians" and political scientist Sindre Bangstad has described him as one of the "main traffickers in extreme right-wing rhetorical tropes about Islam and Muslims" in Norway. Tybring-Gjedde was a civil servant in the Ministry of Defence before he entered politics.