Breaking Down the Escalating Feud Between Trump and Tucker Carlson Amid Divide Over Israel-Iran Conflict
As the active conflict between Israel and Iran enters its sixth day, and with the latter issuing new grave warnings to the United States, divides are starting to show across the political spectrum as to what U.S. President Donald Trump should do next. Trump's openness to a possible U.S. involvement has led to schisms within the Republican community and beyond, and has notably impacted his allyship with a certain former Fox News host.
Tucker Carlson—who was fired from Fox News in 2023 and has since gone on to host his own podcast, The Tucker Carlson Show —has shared a friendly relationship with Trump over the years. Trump sat down with Carlson for an exclusive interview during the 2024 election, and they even hit the campaign trail together.
But on June 13, Carlson made it clear that he opposed any potential U.S. military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict, arguing that the 'real divide' is between 'those who casually encourage violence, and those who seek to prevent it—between warmongers and peacemakers.'
'Who are the warmongers? 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,' Carlson said via social media.
The podcast personality listed several Republicans and high-profile businesspeople and media persons, including Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Rupert Murdoch, Ike Perlmutter, and Miriam Adelson. "At some point they will all have to answer for this, but you should know their names now," Carlson signed off.
Trump was dismissive of Carlson's viewpoint when reporters asked him to comment during the 2025 G7 Summit.
'I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,' the President said.
Later that same day, Trump took to Truth Social to take another jab at Carlson.
'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," he urged.
Other Republican commentators and lawmakers—those who have typically supported Trump's 'America First' policies—have come to Carlson's defense amid Trump's escalation, including far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia.
Greene said that Carlson is one of her "favorite people ' and he 'unapologetically believes the same things" she does.
'[F]oreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction,' Greene said. "That's not kooky. That's what millions of Americans voted for. It's what we believe is America First."
Carson doubled down on his stance on fellow right-wing commentator Steve Bannon's podcast, The War Room, on Monday, in which he warned that involvement in the Middle East could 'weaken' the U.S. 'I think we're going to see the end of the American empire,' he said.
Bannon, who served as the White House's chief strategist during the first few months of Trump's first term, has also called for the U.S. to stay out of conflict in the Middle East.
Carlson, meanwhile, has broken away from other notable Republicans over the Israel-Iran argument.
Notably, he and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rowed over the Senator's knowledge of Iran during an interview on his podcast, released in full on Wednesday.
'How could you not know that?' Carlson asked in disbelief, after Cruz was unable to answer when asked to list the population of Iran (something Carlson identified as around 92 million).
After Cruz said that he does not 'sit around and memorize population tables,' Carlson replied: 'Well, it's kind of relevant, because you're calling for the overthrow of the government.'
The two continued to argue over about their respective knowledge of the Middle Eastern country, the alleged Iranian Trump assassination plot, and the level of potential U.S. involvement in the current conflict and how that might look.
'We're carrying out military strikes today,' Cruz said. Carlson then pointed out that Cruz and other U.S. officials had stated that the strikes were being carried out by Israel, making Cruz's "we" a curious choice of wording. Cruz clarified: 'With our help. I said 'we.' Israel is leading, but we're supporting them.'
'You just said 'we' were,' Carlson said. 'This is high stakes. You're a Senator. If you're saying the United States government is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.'
Cruz took to social media after the interview with Carlson, arguing that Carlson's question was a 'silly game' and that the former Fox News host had 'attacked' Trump and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during their sit-down.
Trump has echoed Cruz's 'we' in his own Truth Social posts.
'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn't compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured 'stuff,'" he said on Tuesday. 'Nobody does it better than the good ol' USA.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
9 minutes ago
- CBS News
Trump administration to shutter specialized LGBTQ+ suicide lifeline option, sparking backlash
A part of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth — known as 988 option 3 — is being terminated under the Trump administration, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced. "On July 17, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the 'Press 3 option,' to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option," a statement Tuesday from SAMHSA read. The agency said those who contact 988 will "continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress." It's unclear if staff for the specialized option 3 care line will be cut or moved to the general 988 line. CBS News has reached out to SAMHSA for more information. The nation's 988 hotline brings critical access to care for those battling mental health emergencies. Nationwide, calls increased 40% soon after the three-digit number was officially launched in 2022. Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people, described the planned change as "devastating." "This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be available for those who need it," Black said in a statement Wednesday. "Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible." The news comes in the middle of Pride Month, which Black called "callous." He also criticized "the administration's choice to remove the 'T' from the acronym 'LGBTQ+' in their announcement," saying, "Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased." Sen. Tammy Baldwin also condemned the agency's move as "cruelly and needlessly taking" away a crucial resource for LGBTQ+ people in crisis. "During Pride Month, a time to celebrate the progress we've made, the Trump Administration is taking us a step back and telling LGBTQ+ kids that they don't matter and don't deserve help when they are in crisis," she said in a statement. Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, wrote the legislation that created the three-digit 988 hotline. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees SAMHSA, has announced plans to reorganize and fold its functions into a new Administration for a Healthy America. SAMHSA has also lost staff to job cuts this year, including some who worked on the 988 hotline team. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline here. The Trevor Project's trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at or by texting START to 678678. For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or email info@
11 minutes ago
Authorities investigating pizzas anonymously sent to lawmakers, US Capitol Police leadership: Sources
Federal authorities are trying to determine who has been anonymously ordering pizzas that are sent to the homes of U.S. lawmakers across the country and to the homes of those who help protect those lawmakers. The mysterious deliveries have authorities worried that they could be intended to send a menacing message, according to congressional sources and others familiar with the matter. Both Democrats and Republicans in the House have received the unsolicited pizza deliveries, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson's office. Pizzas also were sent to current and former leadership of the U.S. Capitol Police, sources said. "These recent pizza deliveries are troubling and yet again, bring to light the heightened threat landscape we are living in," the Capitol Police said in a statement to ABC News. "Violence and threats, of any kind, targeted at elected officials will not be tolerated.' The Capitol Police said they are "working with our federal, state, and local partners to address the matter." Though many of the pizza deliveries arrived this past weekend, as Minnesota authorities were racing to find the man who allegedly shot two state Democratic lawmakers, the deliveries began before the Minnesota attack, a congressional source said. The Minnesota shooting spree left one of the lawmakers and her husband dead. The alleged gunman, Vance Luther Boelter, was captured on Sunday, and federal authorities said he named even more potential targets in writings they say they found, including more than 45 federal and state Democrats from Minnesota. "It's only the most recent example of violent political extremism in this country, and that's a trend that's been increasing in recent years," the acting U.S. attorney in Minnesota, Joe Thompson, said Monday in announcing federal charges against Boelter. As described to ABC News by the congressional source, the recent pizza deliveries are just another potential source of worry. "People are really scared," the congressional source said. Concerns about the pizza deliveries were raised on calls Tuesday with congressional officials and House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland, a congressional source said. The U.S. Capitol Police declined to provide ABC News with more details about the deliveries, citing an effort to "protect ongoing investigations and to minimize the risk of copycats." On Monday, ahead of another briefing to discuss security measures for lawmakers, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., released a video praising the U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate sergeant at arms for 'bending over backwards during very trying times and … doing an excellent job.' Law enforcement officials told ABC News that many public officials have been anonymously sent pizzas in recent years and that the deliveries are thought to be intended to send a potentially threatening message: letting recipients know that the sender knows where they live. Federal Judge Esther Salas, whose son, Daniel Anderl, was murdered at her home in 2020 by a man posing as a delivery driver, recently told ABC News Prime's Linsey Davis that 'hundreds of pizzas are being delivered to the personal homes of judges throughout the country.' 'We had heard about pizzas being delivered to judges' houses, and that says what? 'I know where you live,'' Salas said, adding that recent pizza deliveries were sent to the homes of other judges, and used the name of her murdered son as the sender.
Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Three more DeSantis allies to take the helm of public universities in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state board that oversees Florida's public universities has confirmed three more allies of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to become university presidents. It's a move supporters say will grant the schools the political capital to secure critical state funding and navigate a rapidly shifting legal landscape, and one that critics see as another sign that alignment with the governor's conservative education agenda has become a prerequisite for academic leadership in the state. The elevation of two Republican former lawmakers and a lobbyist comes after the state Board of Governors rejected the nomination of a longtime academic to lead the University of Florida, amid conservative backlash against his past support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs that board members viewed as unacceptable liberal ideology. With the appointments approved Wednesday, five of the state's 12 public universities will be led by former Republican lawmakers or lobbyists, a move that will help bolster DeSantis' legacy in higher education that could long outlast his time in office. Leading a Florida universities generally come with a multiyear contract for a salary of at least six-figures and a plush on-campus residence. The process for picking these leaders happens largely behind closed doors, creating what the state's Republican House speaker has called 'a spoil system for a select few.' DeSantis' former lieutenant governor, Jeanette Nuñez. was confirmed as the president of Florida International University in Miami. Meanwhile, telecommunications lobbyist Marva Johnson was tapped to lead Florida A&M University, the state's only public historically Black university. Johnson was previously a DeSantis appointee on the state board of education. Manny Diaz, a former state lawmaker and state education commissioner under DeSantis, was picked to lead the University of West Florida in Pensacola on an interim basis, mirroring the appointment of Nuñez, who was first named interim president before getting the permanent job at FIU. Johnson's appointment, in particular, has alarmed FAMU students and alumni, who begged the board not to confirm her on Wednesday, arguing that she failed to meet the job's minimum requirements and that her requested salary far exceeds her predecessor's. Johnson's appointment has stoked longstanding fears that the HBCU could be merged with Florida State University, the predominantly white institution across the railroad tracks. 'I can't decide if her appointment is politically motivated, gross negligence on the part of the board, or just you guys wanting to get rid of FAMU altogether,' alumnus Angelo Pettis told the Board of governors. Board members defended Johnson, her credentials as a telecoms executive and her service on various state boards. Johnson addressed the concerns of FAMU students and supporters, saying she's 'ready to lead with boldness' and committed to working alongside them. 'I remain deeply committed to ensuring that the legacy of the university is not lost,' Johnson said. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
