Tucker Carlson unloaded on President Donald Trump on Wednesday, accusing him of weakening the country instead of delivering on his “Make America Great Again” promises.
The conservative commentator, once one of Trump’s most loyal media allies, has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the president in recent months. But his latest comments marked one of his sharpest attacks yet, framing Trump’s leadership as a betrayal of the voters who helped return him to office.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, Carlson questioned whether Trump had become overly aligned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly following the administration’s decision to launch military action against Iran earlier this year. Carlson has consistently opposed the conflict and reportedly tried to persuade Trump not to escalate tensions in the region.
The war has had major economic consequences. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global energy markets, sending oil and gas prices sharply higher and worsening inflation concerns already tied to Trump’s tariff policies.
Carlson zeroed in on comments Trump made Tuesday about his popularity in Israel.
“I’m at 99% [approval] in Israel,” Trump said. “I could run for prime minister. So, maybe after I do this, I’ll go to Israel and run for prime minister. I had a poll this morning. I’m 99%, so that’s good.”
Carlson reacted angrily to the remarks, arguing that Trump appeared more focused on approval overseas than support at home.
“The president of the United States bragging about his popularity in a foreign country,” Carlson said. “Unmentioned is the fact that he’s 35% in the United States.”
He continued by accusing Trump of abandoning the Americans who elected him.
“Thirty-five percent support from Americans, the people he pledged to represent, to fight for, whose side he promised to take in every conflict, foreign and domestic,” Carlson said. “And yet, there he is, bragging about how popular he is in a foreign country.”
Carlson argued that the issue goes beyond a single offhand remark. According to him, Trump has spent the last year prioritizing foreign interests while neglecting problems at home.
“The last year has not made America great again,” Carlson said. “The last year has diminished American power at a rate some of us thought was unimaginable.”
He added that he and others who supported Trump never expected the administration to inflict this level of damage on the country.
Carlson’s criticism of the administration has intensified as the conflict with Iran has continued. Earlier this week, he appeared on an Israeli news program where he had a tense exchange with the host over Netanyahu’s role in pushing the United States toward war.
During the interview, Carlson again accused the Israeli prime minister of pressuring Trump into military action against Iran, a claim the White House forcefully rejected.
In response to Carlson’s recent comments, the administration dismissed him as “a low-IQ person who spreads fake news for cheap publicity.”
