Latest news with #Carlson
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
The Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson fallout and why it's not a surprise
The Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson fallout and why it's not a surprise Show Caption Hide Caption Trump, White House unveil new two new enormous American flags President Donald Trump and others watched the enormous American flag rise at the White House. With friends like these, who needs enemies? About a week after his public fallout with tech CEO Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and former Fox News host and right-wing firebrand Tucker Carlson are taking shots at each other. Carlson started after Trump over the president's handling of the conflict between Iran and Israel, calling Trump "complicit in the act of war" in a newsletter. On Truth Social, Trump fired back at Carlson, giving the host a derisive nickname, as he has with many of his past political opponents. 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,' he wrote. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Trump and Carlson for further comment. How did we get here? Well, to paraphrase an expert on breakups named Taylor Swift, we have "seen this film before." Friendship experts previously told USA TODAY that public fallouts like these are important to pay attention to, as they shed light on messy aspects of friendship breakups that play out in all our lives. Shasta Nelson, a social relationships expert and the author of "The Business of Friendship: Making the Most of Our Relationships Where We Spend Most of Our Time," previously told USA TODAY that, when friends fall out in an unhealthy manner, it's especially easy for what could have been a peaceful split to spiral into a toxic feud. What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter "These public relationships are a mirror to what happens so often," Nelson said, adding that when two former friends get into an online feud, it's usually because they're "trying to get from the public what they ultimately need from each other, which is feeling seen in safe and satisfying ways." How friendship breakups impact our mental health Up until recently, Carlson seemed to be one of Trump's biggest fans, endorsing him in the 2024 election and giving a headline-making speech at his Madison Square Garden rally in New York in the leadup to November. That's partly why his recent attacks on Trump have sparked such conversation online. And it's not just Trump whom Carlson has fought with online recently either. An interview he did with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz recently went viral on X, in which the two clashed over U.S. involvement in the Middle East. What shouldn't be underestimated about a friendship breakup? The mental health toll. That's because, as Nelson previously told USA TODAY, our society doesn't have proper etiquette when it comes to friends parting ways. Without a clear roadmap, friendship breakups often feel ambiguous or sometimes lead to unnecessary hurt. More: Elon Musk says Trump 'would have lost the election': When friendships implode When that hurt gets magnified online, it tends to rise to the level of a feud. "I can easily say that friendship breakups can sometimes be more complicated than romantic relationships, because, with romantic relationships, we have a lot more ritual around it, and we usually have more conversation," Nelson said. "In our friendships and our platonic relationships, it can be so complicated. We expect it to go easy. Our expectations are different, and then the grief can be a lot more, and the anger can be a lot more." How to cope with a hostile friendship breakup Still, if a friendship breakup does take a hostile turn − and then that hostility gets taken online − there are ways to deescalate the situation and reconcile. Nelson recommends both friends laying down their swords and starting a respectful, ideally private, dialogue. "The best approach is always to sit down and practice vulnerability with each other and practice taking responsibility for our own things," she previously told USA TODAY. "It's finding the place where we can apologize. It's finding a way to try to understand the other person. It's trying to use language where we say, 'Help me understand this.' " In case you missed: Tucker Carlson is back in the spotlight, again. What message does that send? If you find the other person is not amenable to that approach, psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis advises ignoring the online slings and arrows. Responding tends to only add fuel to the fire. "When people use social media to attack one another, it generally never goes well," she previously told USA TODAY. "No one ever said, 'Well, I'm really glad that I resolved that issue that way.'" Could Trump and Carlson take this route? It's possible. According to a transcript provided to USA TODAY by a White House representative, the president hinted that he and Carlson may be ready to make up, while speaking to reporters at an afternoon press briefing on June 18. "Tucker is a nice guy," the president said. "He called and apologized the other day because he thought he said things that were a little bit too strong, and I appreciated that."
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Why did Tucker Carlson's clash with Ted Cruz over Iran go viral?
A combative interview between TV host Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz has highlighted the divide within the Maga coalition. The two sparred over US involvement in Israel's strikes on Iran, basic facts about the country and Trump's foreign policy. The clash revealed sharp divisions on military intervention and America's future role in the region read more (Left) US Senator Ted Cruz speaks during the AmericaFest 2024 conference in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024; (right) Tucker Carlson speaks during a rally at Madison Square Garden, in New York, US, October 27, 2024. File Images/Reuters A viral interview between United States Senator Ted Cruz and conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson has taken centre stage as it revealed growing internal divisions in Donald Trump's Republican coalition over potential US military involvement in Israel's escalating confrontation with Iran. The widely circulated conversation, now published in full, has since dominated headlines and now social media. The Cruz-Carlson exchange, recorded on Carlson's podcast earlier in the week, is being described by both participants as unusually combative. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carlson, a prominent figure in the 'America First' wing of the conservative movement, directly challenged Cruz, one of the Republican Party's leading national security hawks, over his advocacy for US support in Israel's bombing campaign on Iranian targets. Carlson grills Cruz over Iran knowledge The confrontation began with Carlson questioning Cruz about his knowledge of Iran — starting with a seemingly simple query: the country's population. When Cruz admitted, 'I don't know the population at all,' Carlson responded sharply: 'You don't know the population you seek to topple?' Carlson then asked about the country's ethnic composition. Cruz replied, 'They are Persians, and predominantly Shia.' Carlson followed up with: 'You don't know anything about Iran!' At one point, Cruz attempted to deflect the line of questioning by saying, 'OK, this is cute… OK, I am not the Tucker Carlson expert on Iran.' Carlson continued pressing the senator, arguing that knowing such basic facts was essential if Cruz was advocating for regime change or US intervention. Cruz dismissed the line of questioning later as a 'silly game,' accusing Carlson of attempting a 'gotcha' moment. Senator Ted Cruz demands regime change in Iran. He's not interested in the details. (0:00) Why Does Cruz Want Regime Change in Iran? (6:28) Is the US Currently Acting in Its Own Best Interest? (7:49) Was Regime Change in Syria Beneficial to the US? (12:31) Was the Iraq War a… — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 18, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a follow-up podcast episode, Cruz said, 'I agree with Tucker on 80 percent of the issues,' but added that 'on foreign policy, Tucker has gone bat-crap crazy. He's gone off the rails.' The tension rose further when Cruz stated during the interview, 'We are carrying out military strikes today.' Carlson interrupted, pointing out that Cruz and other officials had previously stated that Israel was leading the strikes. 'You said Israel was,' Carlson noted. Cruz responded: 'Right, with our help. I said 'we' — Israel is leading them, but we're supporting them.' Carlson then remarked, '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.' Division over Trump's foreign policy vision The Cruz-Carlson exchange is only the most visible episode in a broader internal Republican debate that has intensified as Israel's offensive in Iran accelerates. Israeli forces, in recent days, have struck key nuclear infrastructure sites at Natanz and Isfahan, though the underground Fordo facility remains out of reach without US bunker-busting capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The question now is whether the US will directly join in the campaign. The Trump administration has been sending mixed signals. Trump has posted increasingly provocative statements on his social platform, calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender' and suggesting the US might assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, writing, 'We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' He also asserted that the US had assumed control over Iranian airspace, writing: 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.' Cruz echoed this sentiment in the Carlson interview, but Carlson seized on the wording of 'we,' pressing whether this implied direct US military action. The disagreement reflects the two ideological wings of the pro-Trump right. One faction, represented by Cruz, US Senator Tom Cotton, and media voices like Mark Levin, supports assertive action against Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic's alleged assassination plots against Trump and nuclear ambitions pose a direct threat to American security. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The other faction, which includes Carlson, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, warns that interventionist policies betray the 'America First' mandate Trump ran on in 2016 and again in 2024. Bannon has repeatedly warned that military escalation in the region could derail domestic objectives such as large-scale deportation programs, while Greene said that Carlson 'unapologetically believes the same things I do.' She added, 'Foreign wars/intervention/regime change put America last, kill innocent people, are making us broke, and will ultimately lead to our destruction.' Carlson-Trump tensions flare, then cool Carlson's opposition to American involvement has also placed him in direct conflict with Trump himself. On June 13, Carlson posted that the divide was now between 'warmongers and peacemakers,' and named Republicans and donors such as Sean Hannity, Rupert Murdoch, Ike Perlmutter, and Miriam Adelson as individuals 'calling Donald Trump today to demand air strikes.' Trump initially responded dismissively at the recent G7 Summit in Canada, telling reporters, 'Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen.' Later, on Truth Social, Trump escalated his rhetoric, saying: 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, by Wednesday, Trump revealed to reporters in the Oval Office that Carlson had called him and apologised for his tone. 'He called and apologised the other day because he thought he said things that were a little bit too strong, and I appreciated that,' Trump said. He pointed out that Carlson, like himself, did not want Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, adding, 'You may have to fight… maybe it will end very quickly.' Despite the personal thaw, the strategic divide remains. Carlson reiterated his concerns on Steve Bannon's podcast The War Room, stating that further military involvement could lead to 'the end of the American empire.' Trump, by contrast, has deployed refuelling tankers, a second carrier group, and has continued to hint at deeper engagement. Civilian toll of the Israel-Iran conflict till now As political figures clash in Washington, the human cost of the conflict continues to rise. According to a Washington-based human rights group, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 585 deaths in Iran, including 239 civilians. In retaliation, Iranian strikes have killed at least 24 Israelis and left hundreds injured. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cruz has maintained that the regime in Tehran presents a danger to the US, citing previous threats to assassinate Trump, which Carlson disputed during their interview. Cruz later said on social media that Carlson had 'attacked' the US president and the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC during their sit-down. While Trump's leadership remains unchallenged within the GOP, the disagreement over whether to enter another conflict in West Asia is going to be a flashpoint in the future. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Israel-Iran Conflict: How another Middle East War is ripping MAGA apart - will Trump coalition survive?
As war clouds gather over Tehran, the 'America First' coalition fractures—from Carlson's outrage to Cruz's crusade, with Vice President JD Vance echoing the commander-in-chief's every word. The MAGA Movement Promised No More Wars—Now It's on the Brink of One Donald Trump didn't just win the 2024 election—he crushed it with a promise to rebuild America without stumbling into another foreign disaster. 'No more stupid wars' became doctrine. His base connected with this pledge, proud that he hadn't launched any new wars. But now, deep into 2025, that legacy is under pressure. In June, Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities—and Trump responded by warning Iran's leaders to surrender 'unconditionally,' advising Tehran's civilians to evacuate, and boasting that the U.S. had 'total control of the skies.' The MAGA movement—defined by its distrust of foreign entanglements—is experiencing an identity crisis. The coalition that brought Trump back to power is now split, torn between instincts that fueled his rise. The Anti-War Wing: Carlson, Bannon, Greene, Gaetz—and the MAGA Grassroots Tucker Carlson: MAGA's Foreign Policy Firewall Carlson has emerged as the vocal anti-war leader within MAGA circles. He warned that war with Iran could end Trump's presidency. During a dramatic on-camera exchange with Senator Ted Cruz, he challenged his hawkish views by questioning basic facts about Iran—its population, its sectarian landscape—and called out what he sees as dangerous ignorance dressed up as resolve. To Carlson, this is Iraq 2.0. And allowing MAGA to shift toward intervention is nothing short of a betrayal. Tucker and Ted Cruz Get Into Heated Debate on AIPAC and Foreign Influence Steve Bannon: The Loyal Dissenter Bannon warned that a war with Iran could destroy the MAGA coalition. Yet he tempered the warning with neutrality, noting that even dissenting voices would ultimately fall in line behind Trump. His message: the base doesn't want war, but Trump remains the centre of gravity. Marjorie Taylor Greene: Culture Warrior, Peace Advocate Greene has remained firm in her opposition to escalation. She's made it clear that another conflict in the Middle East would betray the MAGA movement's core promise: to put America first—at home, not in yet another desert war. Matt Gaetz: The Populist Sceptic Gaetz has voiced deep scepticism over renewed interventionism, warning that MAGA should not fall for recycled Bush-era framing. He's dismissed hawkish rhetoric and cautioned that any move toward war must have a clearly defined exit strategy and real American interests at stake. His message is clear: military might is not a substitute for strategic clarity. The War Caucus: Cruz, Rubio, Levin, Hannity—Old Doctrine, New Labels Ted Cruz: Confident, But Clueless? Cruz maintained a hawkish stance in public appearances, even as he fumbled through basic facts about Iran. He's called Iran a threat and said the U.S. must act if necessary. His slip—confusing Israeli actions with American ones—highlighted the extent to which some MAGA hawks are ready for conflict, regardless of the details. Marco Rubio: From Miami to Mossad Now serving as Secretary of State, Rubio has become the administration's leading voice for a hardline Iran policy. He insists that Iran must be denied not just weapons, but even enrichment capacity. His doctrine is simple: Iran cannot even come close to the nuclear threshold. Mark Levin and Sean Hannity: Reagan-era Revivalists Both Levin and Hannity have called for strong action. Levin has floated the idea of regime change. Hannity has embraced the logic of preemptive strikes. They represent the older, more muscular conservatism that sees war not as a failure—but as assertion of American strength. JD Vance: The Loyal Lieutenant, Not the Peacemaker Vice President JD Vance, once the populist realist, now speaks with tight discipline. He hasn't condemned the hawks. He hasn't echoed the doves. He simply follows the President's lead—repeating Trump's lines, offering no deviation, and avoiding ideological entanglement. Vance is not acting as a bridge between factions. He's acting as a megaphone for Trump. His silence is strategic. His discipline is total with the belief that if he holds on long enough, he's a shoo-in to the be Trump's successor. Trump's Game: Maximum Pressure, Minimum Commitment—So Far Trump has long weaponised ambiguity. He's sent American forces into visible alert, named Iranian leaders, threatened air superiority—and yet, he hasn't fired a shot. This is vintage Trump: threatening force without deploying it, posturing without committing. But the longer this game stretches, the more pressure mounts. Hawks want action. The base wants peace. And Trump, ever the tactician, wants both. MAGA's Iraq Flashback: The Ghost That Haunts Them Still The language is all too familiar. Talks of WMDs. Warning of rogue regimes. Accusations of appeasement. MAGA was born in rebellion against this rhetoric. Trump won hearts by denouncing the Iraq War as a historic failure. Now, those ghosts are back. And the question is whether the movement has truly changed—or merely changed labels. The 2025 Test: Can MAGA Survive a Middle East War? Trump's current coalition—rooted in working-class values, suburban nationalism, and youth anti-establishment sentiment—says no to foreign adventures. Most polls show his base is wary of intervention. But a gamble remains: if Trump escalates, that coalition could fracture. The internal pressure is mounting. MAGA's future depends on whether it keeps its promise—or betrays the fierce anti-war impulse that helped redefine American politics in 2025. The Real War Is Inside MAGA This is more than a foreign policy debate—it's an ideological showdown. Anti-war bloc: Carlson, Bannon, Greene, Gaetz—warning against another Iraq, urging focus at home. War caucus: Cruz, Rubio, Levin, Hannity—championing confrontation and regime change. Intercepted by: JD Vance—standing in lockstep with Trump, no deviation. At the centre: Trump—wielding threats and uncertainties while testing the elasticity of a fractured coalition. A strike on Iran may win a skirmish—but MAGA's soul hangs in the balance. The real question now isn't just 'should we go to war?'—it's 'can MAGA survive it?'
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ted Cruz Trolls 'Fact-Free' Tucker Carlson With 'Objective Fact'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After the heated and combative interview between Republican Senator Ted Cruz and right-wing media host Tucker Carlson went viral online, Cruz accused the conservative commentator of being "utterly fact-free" in his views on Iran and U.S. foreign policy. Why It Matters Cruz's clash with Carlson took place during a two-hour interview that Carlson later posted on X, where the former Fox News host challenged Cruz over his support for regime change in Iran. The two debated a range of issues, focusing on U.S. involvement in Iran and Carlson's claim that Cruz prioritizes Israel too heavily in his foreign policy. Their exchange came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, which were sparked when Israel launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and military targets, killing several senior scientists and officers. Iran quickly retaliated, most recently hitting a major Israeli hospital in a strike the Israeli government said crossed a "red line." Senator Ted Cruz, chairman Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, leads the committee's questioning of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Chair and CEO Lisa Su, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator and Microsoft... Senator Ted Cruz, chairman Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, leads the committee's questioning of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Chair and CEO Lisa Su, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator and Microsoft Corporation President and Vice Chair Brad Smith in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on May 08, 2025 in Washington, DC. More Photo byWhat To Know In a post on X on Thursday, responding to commentator Matt Walsh's commentary about the interview, Cruz wrote, "I agree that it was interesting. But it would have more so had Tucker not been utterly fact-free." "'I've never heard of Iran trying to kill [President Donald Trump]!' [high-pitched laughter]," Cruz wrote, mocking the former Fox News host. The Texas senator then brought up a Department of Justice indictment, writing that "it's an objective fact." The indictment charges Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian operative, with plotting to assassinate Trump. 1/x @MattWalshBlog I agree that it was interesting. But it would have more so had Tucker not been utterly fact-free. 'I've never heard of Iran trying to kill Trump!' [high-pitched laughter] It's an objective fact. Here's the DOJ indictment: — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 19, 2025 During the interview, Carlson pressed Cruz on fundamental knowledge of Iran, beginning with a question about the country's population. When Cruz said he didn't know, Carlson replied, "You don't know the population of the country you seek to topple?" The former Fox News host posted the clip online and it quickly went viral, drawing tens of millions of views and sparking widespread debate among those on both sides of the political aisle. Cruz defended his record and turned the conversation toward the threat posed by Iran, citing the DOJ's indictment of Farhad Shakeri. "You're the one who claims they're not trying to murder Donald Trump," Cruz told Carlson, referencing the alleged plot. "You're the one who can't figure out if it was a good idea to kill General Soleimani and you said it was bad," Cruz added. Carlson countered that Cruz was downplaying the implications of advocating for military action without understanding the country in question. "You're a senator who's calling for an overthrow of the government and you don't know anything about the country," Carlson said. In a follow-up exchange, Cruz said the U.S. is currently helping Israel conduct strikes on Iranian targets. "We are carrying out military strikes today," he said. Carlson interrupted to point out that Israel was leading the campaign, to which Cruz replied, "With our help. I said 'we'—Israel is leading but we're supporting them." When Carlson asked if Cruz knew Iran's population, the senator replied that he didn't "sit around memorizing population tables," prompting Carlson to say: "You don't know the population of the country you seek to topple?" Carlson's rhetoric toward Trump has been increasingly critical, with the longtime supporter—who headlined large rallies with the Republican during the 2024 campaign—this week suggesting that the president was breaking his pledge to keep the United States out of foreign entanglements. Trump clapped back at Carlson on social media, calling him "kooky." During an event at the White House later Wednesday, Trump said that Carlson had "called and apologized" for criticizing him, saying Carlson "is a nice guy." What People Are Saying Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday night: "Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'" Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Donald Trump, said on his show, "The War Room": "Come on, man. We have to have an adult conversation. We're not going to let the shills at Fox—the same exact crowd that said the same thing about the Iraq War—force the President of the United States into a corner. He needs a range of options." Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, commented on his weekly podcast: "You've got Tucker Carlson going, 'Why are we going to war with Iran again?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, you tell him, brother!' That's how f---ing upside down we are right now." What Happens Next White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will make a decision on whether or not to have the United States join Israel's war with Iran "within the next two weeks."
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Tucker Carlson called and apologised': Trump's big revelation amid MAGA 'infighting' over Iran war
US President Donald Trump has revealed that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson personally phoned him to apologise over his remarks on the escalating Iran-Israel war. Carlson admitted he went 'a little too strong' in his criticism and sought to clarify his position in a private call. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump called Carlson a 'nice guy' and said they also discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions. Show more Show less
