President Trump dismisses Tucker Carlson’s sharp criticism over Israel’s bombing of Iran, calling the former Fox News star “kooky” while challenging him to “get a television network” if he wants to be heard. This high-profile clash between two conservative heavyweights has exposed a growing rift within the MAGA movement over America’s role in the Middle East and whether Trump’s foreign policy truly follows his “America First” principles.
This public feud erupted after Carlson accused Trump of betraying his core supporters by supporting Israeli military actions against Iran. The dispute highlights fundamental tensions within conservative circles about America’s proper role on the world stage. Trump maintains that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons justifies U.S. involvement, while Carlson warns such policies could drag America into another costly Middle Eastern conflict. Their conflict has forced many conservatives to choose sides between their admiration for Trump and their war-weariness after decades of American military interventions abroad. The outcome of this ideological battle could significantly influence Republican foreign policy for years to come.
Trump Fires Back at Former Fox Star
The dispute began when Tucker Carlson published a newsletter titled “This Could Be the Final Newsletter Before All-Out War,” criticizing President Trump’s support for Israel’s recent airstrikes against Iran. Carlson argued that America’s funding and weapons support for Israel make the U.S. complicit in these attacks, regardless of official denials of direct involvement. His strongly worded critique suggested that Trump had abandoned his “America First” doctrine that had resonated with millions of voters who supported him in part because of his promises to reduce American military entanglements abroad.
Trump wasted no time responding to Carlson’s criticism, taking to Truth Social to dismiss the former Fox News host. “Somebody explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump wrote in his characteristic all-caps style. In further comments, Trump belittled Carlson’s current media reach, stating, “I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.” This dismissive response underscores the growing tension between two figures who had previously been closely aligned in their messaging to conservative Americans.
The backdrop for this conflict is Israel’s recent military strikes against Iran, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified by claiming Iran was nearing completion of a nuclear weapon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the United States was not directly involved in the attacks, though American forces did help intercept Iranian missiles aimed at Israel. Trump’s public stance has been that while the U.S. was not involved in Israel’s military strikes, he believes a nuclear deal with Iran is forthcoming and maintains that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons.
Carlson’s criticism goes beyond just questioning Trump’s stance on the Israel-Iran conflict. In appearances on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” and in his newsletter, Carlson has expressed fear that U.S. involvement could lead to “all-out war” that would further weaken America. “I actually really love Trump. I think he’s a deeply humane, kind person. But I’m really afraid that my country’s going to be further weakened by this. I think we’re gonna see the end of the American empire,” Carlson stated, suggesting that current policies could potentially end Trump’s presidency and American global dominance.
America First Principles Under Scrutiny
The heart of Carlson’s critique centers on what he sees as a contradiction between Trump’s “America First” campaign promises and his continued support for U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. “While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last night’s events,” Carlson wrote in his newsletter. This argument resonates with many conservatives who supported Trump specifically because they believed he would reduce American military interventions abroad and focus resources on domestic priorities.
Carlson’s position represents a growing isolationist sentiment within the conservative movement that questions whether continued military aid to allies like Israel serves America’s core interests. “Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out,” Carlson claimed, adding, “Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it.” This perspective challenges the traditional Republican establishment view that has long supported robust American involvement in global affairs and particularly strong backing for Israel.
Trump Fires Back at Tucker Carlson Again: ‘Let Him Get a TV Network So People Actually Listen’ (VIDEO) https://t.co/4MCJgRfFxr
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) June 17, 2025
The dispute has created a clear divide within MAGA supporters, with some backing Trump’s more interventionist approach regarding Iran and Israel, while others align with Carlson’s more isolationist stance. Many conservatives who were drawn to Trump’s original promises to end “endless wars” now find themselves conflicted as they see policies that appear to continue America’s deep involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts. This ideological struggle reflects broader questions about what exactly “America First” means in practice when it comes to foreign policy decisions.
For his part, Carlson has been careful to frame his criticism as concern for America’s future rather than personal opposition to Trump. In defending his stance against U.S. support for Israel’s actions against Iran, Carlson has denied accusations of anti-Semitism and instead positioned his arguments as being concerned with American sovereignty and interests. “If Israel wants to wage this war, it has every right to do so. It is a sovereign country, and it can do as it pleases. But not with America’s backing,” Carlson stated, making clear that his opposition is not to Israel’s self-defense but to American involvement.
Media Power Struggle Shapes Debate
The personal dimension of this conflict cannot be overlooked, as it highlights the changing media landscape within conservative circles. After being fired from Fox News in August 2023 following a defamation lawsuit settlement and accusations of creating a toxic work environment, Carlson has worked to rebuild his audience through alternative platforms. His show on X and his podcast “The Tucker Carlson Show” have attracted significant followings, with his podcast averaging 250,000 listens per episode on Spotify and his YouTube channel boasting over 4 million subscribers.
However, these numbers fall short of the 3.3 million daily viewers Carlson commanded as Fox News’s highest-rated presenter, a fact that Trump’s dismissive comments seemed designed to highlight. By suggesting Carlson should “get a television network” to be heard, Trump appeared to be diminishing Carlson’s current media reach and influence. This exchange demonstrates the ongoing battle for audience and influence within conservative media, with traditional television networks still carrying more weight with older conservative voters than newer digital platforms.
“I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.” – President Donald Trump
Despite Trump’s attempts to minimize Carlson’s influence, the former Fox host still maintains significant sway with a segment of the conservative base that is deeply skeptical of foreign entanglements. Carlson’s criticism of the “globalist elites” and “neocons” who he claims are pushing the U.S. toward conflict with Iran taps into long-standing suspicions among many conservatives about the foreign policy establishment. These arguments have particular resonance with voters who have grown weary of America’s military involvements in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Middle East.
The timing of this dispute is particularly significant as it comes during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East and as American voters become increasingly focused on domestic economic concerns. Conservative Americans who are dealing with inflation, border security issues, and economic uncertainties may be particularly receptive to arguments that American resources should be directed inward rather than toward foreign conflicts. This dynamic creates a challenge for Trump as he balances his strong pro-Israel stance with his promises to prioritize American interests.
Implications for Conservative Foreign Policy
This public disagreement between Trump and Carlson exposes a fundamental tension within the Republican party that has existed for decades but was temporarily papered over during Trump’s presidency. Traditional Republican foreign policy has long favored robust American leadership on the world stage, strong military alliances, and unwavering support for Israel. The “America First” approach that gained prominence with Trump’s rise challenged some of these assumptions, questioning whether certain alliances and commitments truly served American interests.
The current debate between Trump and Carlson represents more than just a personal dispute—it’s a battle over the future direction of conservative foreign policy. If Trump’s more interventionist approach regarding Iran prevails, it could signal a return to more traditional Republican foreign policy positions, albeit with stronger “America First” rhetoric. If Carlson’s more isolationist views gain traction, it could represent a more fundamental shift away from decades of Republican foreign policy orthodoxy toward a more limited view of America’s role in the world.
Trump firing back against Tucker for saying he’s complicit in Israel’s attacks on Iran:
“I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.” pic.twitter.com/M9DRNviWSh
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 16, 2025
For many conservative voters, this dispute forces difficult choices between competing priorities and values. Strong support for Israel has long been a cornerstone of conservative foreign policy, seen as both strategically important and morally right. Yet the promise to reduce American military interventions abroad and focus on domestic priorities was a key part of Trump’s appeal to many voters who felt forgotten by establishment politicians of both parties. The Trump-Carlson dispute brings this tension to the surface in ways that cannot easily be resolved.
As this debate continues to unfold, it will likely shape Republican foreign policy discussions for years to come. Both Trump and Carlson have demonstrated significant abilities to influence conservative thinking, and their competing visions represent genuine divisions within the movement. For conservative Americans concerned about America’s proper role in the world, this clash of perspectives provides an opportunity for serious reflection on what principles should guide American foreign policy in an increasingly complex global environment.
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Trump Ramps Up MAGA Civil War With Petty Taunt of Tucker Carlson