©picture alliance / Newscom | PETER FOLEY
Tucker Carlson views a war with Iran as a watershed moment that could determine the political fate of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. In an interview with Sky News, he said that this decision—which runs counter to the “America First” principle—signals, in his view, the beginning of the end for Trump as a political figure.
Carlson, who has been one of Trump’s fiercest defenders for years, stated that he had already warned the president about the consequences of a war with Iran in February. He said he has had no direct contact with Trump since the initial attacks. According to him, for Trump, Iran will become what Afghanistan was for Joe Biden: a turning point that overshadows the presidency.
Carlson also sees little future for the broader MAGA movement. He even called the movement “over” and said that there's no future for it if Trump breaks his promise not to start new foreign wars. Carlson had previously indicated that he regretted his support for Trump and called the president “malicious.”
The rift between Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump is intense and appears to be final. The former Fox News star, who for years was publicly one of Trump’s loudest supporters, now says that the war with Iran is not only damaging to the president but could also spell the end of the MAGA movement.
In an interview with Sky News, Carlson argued that Trump’s decision to attack Iran goes against the very core of his own “America First” message. According to Carlson, American leaders should focus on domestic issues, such as inflation and social tensions, rather than starting new conflicts abroad.
He drew a comparison with former President George W. Bush, whose legacy, he said, was largely defined by the war in Iraq. Similarly, Carlson said, Trump will eventually be remembered as the “Iran warmonger,” regardless of other political successes.
Carlson warned that the political cost could be high. The war would not only damage Trump but also further divide the Republican Party at a time when tensions within the conservative base are already high.
The former host, who had previously distanced himself publicly from Trump, also said that he himself has no presidential ambitions. “Not now,” he added with a smile.
©picture alliance / Newscom | PETER FOLEY