Donald Trump Cuts Tucker Carlson Out of MAGA: 'Lost His Way' - Newsweek

President Donald Trump has cut Tucker Carlson out of the MAGA contingent following his criticism of the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran.

"Tucker has lost his way," Trump told ABC News. "He's not MAGA. 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 former Fox News host has long opposed American military involvement in the Middle East, and said in a statement to ABC News that the decision to attack Iran was "absolutely disgusting and evil."

*Newsweek *contacted a representative for Carlson for comment via email outside of normal working hours.

Why It Matters

The U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on Saturday, in what has been dubbed "Operation Epic Fury." Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the U.S. Central Command, said on Thursday that the goal was to "eliminate Iran's ability to threaten Americans."

As the war enters its seventh day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that U.S. strikes against Iran were "about to surge dramatically."

Iran has retaliated across the region, which has resulted in U.S. military casualties. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency puts the civilian death toll at 1,168 so far.

On Sunday, a poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that one in four Americans support the strikes, with about half of respondents believing that Trump was too willing to use military force.

What To Know

On Monday, Carlson said on his podcast, The Tucker Carlson Show: "This is Israel's war. This is not the United States' war. This war's not being waged on behalf of American national security objectives — to make the United States safer or richer. This war isn't even about weapons of mass destruction, nukes."

Carlson added that there are times he gets "annoyed with Trump," and that this moment is "definitely included." But he said: "I'll always love him no matter what he says about me."

Response to Trump's remarks about Carlson have been mixed among Republicans. The former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X: "I SUPPORT TUCKER. Trump doesn't even know what MAGA is anymore."

"Trump is not America First, he's donor first. 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," she said.

But Republican congressman Randy Fine wrote on X: "I agree with Donald Trump - Tucker Carlson is not MAGA."

What People Are Saying

Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social: "A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."

Erik Prince, a Trump ally and former Navy SEAL, said on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast: "I don't think this was in America's interests. It's going to uncork a significant can of worms and chaos and destruction in Iran now."

House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote to X: "Today, Iran is facing the severe consequences of its evil actions. President Trump and the administration have made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime’s sustained nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and the murder of Americans—and even their own people."

Megyn Kelly, a conservative commentator and the host of ***The Megyn Kelly Show, said on Monday's episode of the podcast:* "There's nothing unpatriotic or unsupportive of one's conservatism or general adherence to MAGA-type principles to say, 'I would like to be better convinced that this is worth the sacrifice of American blood and treasure.' That's where I am. That's where a lot of people are."

What Happens Next

Trump has said that the U.S. military campaign in Iran could last for four or five weeks to achieve its aims. However, he warned that it could "go far longer than that." But Hegseth has said the conflict will not turn into a "forever war."