A Rift on the Right: Carlson Turns on Trump
Tucker Carlson, once considered a key voice in the Trump-aligned conservative movement, has sharply criticized former President Donald Trump and a handful of top conservative media figures for supporting Israel’s recent military strikes on Iran. Carlson’s latest comments suggest a major divide within the right, particularly between those urging U.S. support for Israel’s offensive and those who see that as a dangerous step toward another American war in the Middle East.
In a strongly worded newsletter titled “This Could Be the Final Newsletter Before All-Out War,” Carlson accused Trump of being “complicit” in Israel’s actions. He argued that even if U.S. forces were not directly involved in the early stages of the assault, the years of American funding and arms shipments to Israel meant the United States was deeply involved.
“Washington knew these attacks would happen,” Carlson wrote. “They aided Israel in carrying them out. Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it. Our country is in deep.”
Targeting Conservative Media Giants and Donors
Carlson did not stop at Trump. In public statements and on social media, he singled out several high-profile conservative voices and donors, calling them “warmongers” and accusing them of encouraging Trump to launch direct U.S. military strikes on Iran.
“Who are the warmongers?” Carlson asked his readers. “They would include anyone who’s calling Donald Trump today to demand air strikes and other direct U.S. military involvement in a war with Iran. On that list: Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rupert Murdoch, Ike Perlmutter, and Miriam Adelson.”
He added, “At some point they will all have to answer for this, but you should know their names now.”
Carlson specifically criticized Mark Levin, a Fox News host and member of Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, for allegedly visiting the White House to lobby for war. “Mark Levin was at the White House today, lobbying for war with Iran,” Carlson wrote on X. “To be clear, Levin has no plans to fight in this or any other war. He’s demanding that American troops do it.”
Mark Levin Responds: “You’re a Reckless Propagandist”
Levin wasted no time firing back. On X, he blasted Carlson’s accusations. “Yes, I know … Carlson has become a loathsome a** who is increasingly unhinged and pathetic,” Levin wrote. “You’re a reckless and deceitful propagandist, and that’s the best I can say. You promote antisemitism and conspiracy nuts.”
Levin has also publicly criticized Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, accusing him of trying to strike a deal with “a warmonger Iranian terrorist regime.” Witkoff was leading talks aimed at reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran before Israel launched its strikes.
Levin, speaking on Fox News, praised Israel’s military operation and said, “The Iranians are about to get their asses kicked and it’s been coming since Jimmy Carter.”
Sean Hannity also appeared to celebrate the strikes, reading off a list of Iran’s past provocations and claiming that Israel was right to act.
Carlson Warns of Catastrophic War
Carlson took a much different tone. He warned that any war with Iran would be disastrous for the United States. “The first week of a war with Iran could easily kill thousands of Americans,” he wrote. “It could also collapse our economy, as surging oil prices trigger unmanageable inflation. Consider the effects of $30 gasoline.”
He added, “An attack on Iran could very easily become a world war. We’d lose.”
Carlson also challenged the long-standing claim that Iran is close to acquiring nuclear weapons. “It’s a lie,” he said. “In fact, there is zero credible intelligence that suggests Iran is anywhere near building a bomb, or has plans to. None. Anyone who claims otherwise is ignorant or dishonest.”
He argued that this same talking point has been repeated since the 1990s, and said that if Iran were actually weeks away from building a bomb, the U.S. government would already be at war.
Trump’s Position and Carlson’s Accusation
Despite Carlson’s criticism, Trump has continued to speak in support of Israel while urging Iran to return to nuclear talks. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. God Bless You All!”
But Carlson said Trump’s recent support for Israeli military efforts contradicts his earlier campaign promises. “Earlier this week, unnamed Washington sources expressed concern over Israel’s ability to fend off Iran’s retaliation, which would inevitably lead to Benjamin Netanyahu ordering the American military to step in,” Carlson wrote. “Now, the world will learn what that looks like.”
He added that Trump’s past pledge to avoid foreign wars is now being tested. “Six months into his second term, he has not only failed to do that, but has seemingly escalated the situation in the Middle East.”
Critics Accuse Carlson of Undermining Allies
Carlson’s remarks have ignited controversy not only among media figures but also within diplomatic circles. Former Governor Mike Huckabee, now serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, dismissed Carlson’s stance and said that Israel’s security is an American interest.
“Seven hundred thousand Americans live in Israel,” Huckabee wrote. “That is a full congressional district, but Tucker doesn’t care.” He added, “I learned long ago that the most dangerous man in the room is the guy who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. He will get you killed. That’s Tucker.”
Meanwhile, others say Carlson is undermining U.S. allies during a dangerous moment. Israeli strikes have reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, and in response, Iran has launched ballistic missiles toward Tel Aviv. U.S. officials confirmed that American forces were helping intercept missiles aimed at Israel.
The Bigger Picture: A Divided Conservative Movement
Carlson’s criticism signals a growing divide within the Republican Party over foreign policy. On one side are traditional hawks like Levin and Hannity who support aggressive measures to defend Israel. On the other are nationalist and populist voices like Carlson, Charlie Kirk, and Jack Posobiec who believe that foreign wars violate the “America First” promise that helped Trump win in 2016 and 2020.
Carlson summed up the split plainly: “The real divide isn’t between people who support Israel and people who support Iran or the Palestinians. The real divide is between those who casually encourage violence, and those who seek to prevent it.”
As bombs continue to fall in the Middle East, and tensions between conservatives rise at home, the Republican movement appears more fractured than it has been in years. Whether Trump will double down on military support or heed the warnings from Carlson and others remains to be seen.
NP Editor: I can usually empathize with people who take opposing views, but in this case I can’t agree at all. It is very simple. If Iran, under its current leadership gets a nuclear weapon, they will immediately use it, first on Israel, second on the U.S.
But make no mistake, Trump has prioritized the biggest problems, and Iran is one of the biggest, he may be fighting this through Israel but we are complicit, active and determined.
