Former President Donald Trump recently launched a sharp public attack on four prominent conservative commentators-Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Alex Jones, and Candace Owens-who have been critical of the ongoing US-Israeli military actions against Iran. Despite initially dismissing them as "stupid people" whom "nobody cares about," Trump devoted a lengthy 372-word post on his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticizing each of them individually. His remarks highlighted past disagreements and perceived failures, emphasizing that their current views diverge sharply from his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement.
All four critics have previously been vocal supporters of Trump and played key roles in his efforts to engage right-wing podcasters and social media influencers during his 2024 presidential campaign. However, Trump accused them of having abandoned the MAGA cause, branding them as "losers" and stating that although he could easily bring them back to his side, he chooses not to return their calls because he is focused on "world and country affairs."
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, was singled out first. Before leaving Fox News in 2023, Carlson hosted the network's highest-rated evening show, drawing over four million viewers nightly. Since then, he has built a significant following on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where he promotes a populist brand of conservatism that sometimes diverges from Trump's own approach. Carlson has faced accusations of spreading misinformation and engaging in conspiracy theories. Importantly, he has been a vocal opponent of the US war against Iran from the outset. Recently, he intensified his criticism by condemning Trump's Easter Sunday message to Iran, calling it "vile on every level" and labeling Trump's threats to bomb civilian energy and transportation infrastructure as war crimes.
Following Trump's critical post, Carlson responded by expressing continued personal affection for the former president but also conveyed sympathy, saying he "feels sorry for him." Carlson echoed a growing narrative among some conservatives that Trump's decision to initiate conflict with Iran was excessively influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "The Israelis have him in a hammerlock," Carlson stated, implying undue external pressure on Trump's foreign policy decisions.
Candace Owens offered a more direct and harsh critique. Owens, known for her right-wing activism, recently claimed without evidence that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated due to his anti-Israel views. In response to Trump's post, Owens bluntly suggested it might be time to "put Grandpa up in a home," implying that Trump is no longer fit for leadership.
Megyn Kelly, another former Fox News star who has sometimes been critical of Trump in the past, also came under his scrutiny. Like Carlson and Owens, Kelly has expressed dissent regarding the military actions in Iran, reflecting a fracture within conservative ranks.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was mentioned briefly in Trump's post, responded on X by accusing Trump of having "gone mad" over the war with Iran, which she described as a broken campaign promise. Greene emphasized her past alliance with Carlson, Kelly, Owens, and Jones in supporting Trump's election but asserted that while they remained consistent, Trump himself had changed. Greene's break with Trump became public last year when she criticized his handling of government files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Since resigning from Congress in January, she has intensified her attacks on Trump, particularly regarding the Iran conflict.
The dissent from figures like Greene, Carlson, Kelly, and Owens signals emerging divisions within Trump's conservative coalition, which had previously been largely unified behind him. These cracks have significant implications given the high stakes of the current geopolitical situation. Vice-President J.D. Vance is leading an American delegation to Pakistan to conduct direct negotiations with Iranian officials scheduled for Saturday. The talks aim to solidify a tenuous two-week ceasefire with Iran, which remains fragile.
Despite the ceasefire, Trump expressed to the New York Post that the US military is actively rearming and resupplying in preparation for the possibility of renewed hostilities should the negotiations fail. This stance suggests that further military escalation remains a real possibility. If the conflict intensifies, it is likely that opposition within Trump's party will grow, potentially expanding beyond the current vocal critics to include more conservatives uneasy with the war.
This internal discord underscores the challenges Trump faces as he seeks to maintain a unified base while managing complex international crises. The situation remains fluid, with potential political ramifications for the former president's 2024 campaign and broader conservative movement.
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