Buckley Carlson, son of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has left his role as deputy press secretary to Vice President JD Vance, as the rift between his father and President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict continues to widen.
Buckley Carlson originally informed the Vice President's office of his intention to depart in December but remained for several months to ensure a smooth transition, a Vance official told Politico. He is leaving to launch his own political consulting firm.
Earlier this year, Tucker Carlson clashed with Trump over the president's threats to obliterate much of Iranian society, with Carlson accusing him of playing God. Trump retaliated by branding Carlson and other critics as having “Low IQs”, prompting Carlson to sell baseball caps bearing the phrase.
Carlson later compared Trump to a slave, claiming the president is “hemmed in by other forces” and unable to make his own decisions. The commentator’s estrangement from the Republican Party has deepened over recent months, including a controversial interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Buckley Carlson previously served as communications director for Representative Jim Banks of Indiana. His departure from the White House marks a further sign of the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the influential conservative media figure.
