Love and Hate in MAGA: How 'Epic Fury' Caused a Rift Between Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump 0 10

Journalist Tucker Carlson told Status host Oliver Darcy that Donald Trump "sometimes annoys him," but he will "always love him." Previously, the U.S. president criticized the popular Republican journalist for his comments on the operation in Iran and stated that he is no longer part of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

On the first day of the 'Epic Fury' operation, ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl reported that in a conversation with him, Tucker Carlson criticized the U.S. attacks, calling the assault "absolutely disgusting and evil."

Last Monday, Carlson expressed doubts in his podcast about whether the operation against Iran serves U.S. national interests. According to him, the conflict "is being fought solely because Israel wanted it." He also noted that the military actions are not related to U.S. economic interests or national security issues, nor do they pertain to the threat of weapons of mass destruction or nuclear weapons. This week, Carlson once again criticized the operation in a conversation with retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor.

As reported by the Washington Examiner, Carlson met personally with Trump before the conflict began and warned that the operation could fundamentally change the political movement.

In response, Trump called Carlson "not smart enough" and stated that he has "lost his way."

"I’ve known this for a long time, and he is not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of that. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that," Trump said in an interview with Jonathan Karl on Thursday.

Conservative activist and Trump supporter Laura Loomer backed the president, launching a critique of Carlson. She accused the journalist of justifying "neo-Nazis and jihadists."

"Thank you, President Trump, for the moral clarity and for distancing yourself from Tucker. The White House should issue a statement banning Tucker from visiting the White House.

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had previously been a strong supporter of Trump but left Congress last year after a public conflict with the president, defended Carlson. Taylor Greene stated that Trump does not understand what the MAGA movement has become.

"Trump is not 'America first,' it’s 'donors first.' Tucker would beat Trump if he ran for president. Especially if Trump tries to violate the Constitution and run for a third term," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

As noted by The Hill, an increasing number of Republican senators are expressing concern over the administration's plans regarding Iran and warning Trump about the risk of a prolonged war, although many of them previously supported his decision to strike Tehran.

In a conversation with journalist Rachel Bade, Trump stated that the MAGA movement is him, and that his supporters still back all his decisions. The president emphasized that the positions of Tucker Carlson and host Megyn Kelly, who opposed U.S. military actions in Iran, do not reflect the views of the movement's supporters.

"I think MAGA is Trump, not those two. MAGA wants our country to thrive and be safe. And MAGA likes everything I do, every aspect. This is a deviation from the course that we need to take to keep our country safe and, frankly, the safety of other countries," Trump said.