President Donald Trump has declared that Tucker Carlson is no longer part of the MAGA movement after the conservative podcaster criticised the US-Israeli military strikes against Iran. In an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Trump said, 'Tucker has lost his way... he's not MAGA.'
Carlson had called the strikes 'absolutely disgusting and evil' in a statement to Karl when Operation Epic Fury began over the weekend. On his podcast, he argued, 'This is Israel’s war. This is not the United States’ war... This war isn’t even about weapons of mass destruction, nukes.'
Trump responded by saying, 'MAGA is saving our country... MAGA is America First, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.' Carlson later told Status's Oliver Darcy, 'There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included. But I’ll always love him no matter what he says about me.'
Right-wing activist Laura Loomer backed Trump, accusing Carlson of 'running interference for the Iranian regime' and trying to 'fracture the America First MAGA base from within.' The term 'America First' has been redefined by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller as ensuring America is the 'greatest, most unquestioned, unmatched power in the world.'
Polling indicates public disapproval of the strikes. An NBC News poll found 54% of voters disapprove of Trump's handling of the situation, and 52% said the US should not have taken military action. A CNN poll showed 6 in 10 respondents believe Trump lacks a clear plan, and 62% want congressional approval before further strikes.
Operation Epic Fury continues, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stating, 'We have only just begun to fight.' Admiral Brad Cooper reported that the US has sunk or destroyed more than 30 Iranian Navy ships and is systematically dismantling Iran's missile production capability.
