The populist movement that reshaped American politics is now witnessing a public family feud. Yet even as tensions boil over, longtime conservative commentator Tucker Carlson says his loyalty to President Donald Trump hasn’t wavered.
Speaking candidly to Status journalist Oliver Darcy, the former Fox News host admitted he’s frustrated with the president’s recent decisions—particularly the military strikes on Iran—but insisted that personal loyalty still matters.
“There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included,” Carlson said, adding, “but I’ll always love him no matter what he says about me.”
That remark came as Trump himself delivered a blistering rebuke of Carlson, making it clear he believes the influential broadcaster no longer represents the core principles of the MAGA movement.
In an interview with ABC News correspondent Jon Karl, Trump didn’t mince words.
“Tucker has lost his way,” the president declared.
“I knew that a long time ago, and he’s not MAGA,” Trump continued. “MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.”
The sharp criticism follows Carlson’s outspoken condemnation of Trump’s recent military action against Iran. Carlson reportedly worked behind the scenes to try to persuade the president against the strikes, even visiting the White House three separate times over the past month in hopes of changing Trump’s mind.
When the operation moved forward, Carlson didn’t hide his feelings, describing the strikes as “absolutely disgusting and evil.”
The disagreement highlights a familiar debate inside conservative circles: how best to apply the “America First” philosophy in a world filled with growing global threats. For Trump and many of his supporters, the Iran strikes represent a necessary show of strength designed to protect the United States and deter hostile regimes. Critics within the movement, Carlson included, see the move as a dangerous step toward another overseas conflict.
Trump has also taken aim at others who questioned the policy. Earlier in the week, the president lumped Carlson together with conservative commentator Megyn Kelly after she argued that American soldiers shouldn’t be asked to die for foreign interests.
Kelly had said “no one should have to die for a foreign country,” a remark that triggered a swift response from Trump.
Speaking to journalist Rachael Bade of The Inner Circle on Monday, the president insisted the MAGA movement ultimately answers to him.
“I think that MAGA is Trump — MAGA’s not the other two,” he said, referring to Carlson and Kelly. “MAGA wants to see our country thrive and be safe. And MAGA loves what I’m doing — every aspect of it… This is a detour that we have to take in order to keep our country safe and keep other countries safe, frankly.”
The internal dispute didn’t stop there. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a longtime Trump ally who has increasingly aligned with the more non-interventionist wing of the movement, jumped into the fight on social media.
“I SUPPORT TUCKER,” Greene posted on X Thursday. “Trump doesn’t even know what MAGA is anymore and turned it into MIGA,” she wrote, suggesting the president’s policy resembled “Make Iran Great Again.” Greene went even further, questioning Trump’s commitment to the original populist agenda.
“Trump is not America First, he’s donor first,” she wrote. “Tucker would beat Trump if he ran for President and Trump tried to violate the constitution and tried to run again for a third term.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, Carlson’s own comments suggest the dispute may be more about policy than personal betrayal. While he clearly opposes Trump’s Iran strategy, his remarks to Darcy signal he still views Trump as a pivotal figure in the conservative movement—even if their paths temporarily diverge.
