Tucker Carlson, a prominent voice in conservative podcasting, has taken an unexpected stance by sharply criticizing Donald Trump’s recent military actions against Iran, labeling them as ‘evil.’ This rare rebuke comes amid growing tensions within Trump’s core MAGA supporters over the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Carlson’s critique follows a coordinated military strike by the United States and Israel targeting the Iranian regime on Saturday morning. In a conversation with journalist Jon Karl, Carlson expressed his disapproval, stating, “Absolutely disgusting and evil.”
In the days leading up to the attack, Carlson reportedly met with Trump in the Oval Office, where he advised against military action in Iran. This meeting underscores the shift from Trump’s earlier political stance, which was rooted in opposition to regime change wars in the Middle East—a position that initially garnered him significant praise from Carlson for his restraint.
Despite his recent criticism, Carlson remains a significant media ally for Trump, continuing to support the former president’s broader agenda. He also maintains close ties with political figures such as Vice President JD Vance, cementing his influential role within conservative circles.
Trump launched his political career and re-entered office advocating against regime change wars in the Middle East. Carlson has for years praised Trump for showing restrain when it comes to waging war in the region.
Carlson is a major political ally of Vice President JD Vance and one of the biggest supporters of Trump in the media.
He campaigned for Trump in the election and spoke in support of him at multiple rallies, including the Republican National Convention in 2024.
Carlson’s break with Trump signals that the decision to plunge the US into a major war with Iran could carry legacy-altering consequences for the president.
Tucker Carlson is calling out Trump for his ‘disgusting and evil’ military strike on Iran
Carlson’s attack on Trump comes just a week after the conservative commentator met with the president in the White House
Carlson is a major political ally of Vice President JD Vance
The US military, in a joint operation with Israel, launched tomahawk missiles on Iran with Air Force and Navy jets.
Iran responded to the aggression by launching ‘revenge strikes’ on US military bases across the Middle East. Tehran has struck the Fifth Fleet service center in Manama, Bahrain, and claims to have hit bases across the region including in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
Other US regional allies, including Iraq and Jordan, have also reported various missile activity from Iran.
The president warned that US troops could lose their lives in the operation, adding that ‘we may have casualties.’
The current casualties resulting from Iran’s retaliatory strikes on US bases remains unclear.
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene issued a statement denouncing the president, claiming he is betraying voters who supported him for ending foreign wars.
‘Thousands and thousands of Americans from my generation have been killed and injured in never ending pointless foreign wars and we said no more. But we are freeing the Iranian people. Please,’ the former GOP lawmaker wrote on Saturday.
‘There are 93 million people in Iran, let them liberate themselves. But Iran is on the verge of having nuclear weapons. Yeah sure.’
Carlson spoke with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee a week before the strikes on Iran, where the pair sparred over their differing views on Israel.
Trump has stated that the US may have casulties from the war with Tehran
In the weeks leading up to the US strike on Iran, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee debated Carlson
Huckabee made controversial comments during the interview that drew disapproval from US Gulf allies.
Carlson stated that, according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham are entitled to land that today encompasses much of the Middle East.
In response to whether Israel had a right to take over the entire region, Huckabee said: ‘It would be fine if they took it all’.
Huckabee then added that Israel was not seeking to expand its territory and has a right to maintain security on the land it legitimately holds.
His words provoked a heated international condemnation from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
