President Donald Trump has forcefully rejected claims made by Tucker Carlson that he has deviated from his signature America First policy by endorsing Israel's preemptive airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
This controversy arose after Carlson, a prominent conservative commentator, accused Trump of betraying his Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters in a newsletter ominously titled "This Could Be the Final Newsletter Before All-Out War."
Carlson's critique, as reported by the New York Post, suggests that Trump is complicit in acts of war, hoping that recent events will bolster his ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. "Despite being complicit in the act of war, the President hopes last nights events will help his ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran," Carlson wrote, according to The Independent. He further argued that the United States, through years of military aid to Israel, is deeply implicated in the recent strikes.
"While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last nights events," Carlson added. He continued, "Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out," and criticized politicians who claim to be America First for their involvement.
In a conversation with The Atlantic, Trump defended his stance, asserting his authority over the America First doctrine. "Well, considering that Im the one that developed America First and considering that the term wasnt used until I came along, I think Im the one that decides that," Trump stated. He emphasized the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, arguing, "For those people who say they want peaceyou cant have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon."
Trump also portrayed himself as a mediator, revealing that he had previously vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, cautioning that such an action could escalate into a larger conflict. Initially, the Trump administration had maintained some distance from Israel's aggressive stance towards Iran. Prior to the strikes, Trump expressed concerns that an attack might jeopardize U.S. nuclear negotiations with Iran, telling reporters, "I dont want them going in because I think it [an attack] would blow" the negotiations.
Following the Israeli strikes, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites and eliminated key scientists and military leaders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement clarifying, "We are not involved in strikes against Iran." Trump later took to Truth Social to remind Iran of the expired 60-day deadline for a nuclear deal and urged the regime to negotiate a new agreement.
Carlson has consistently expressed skepticism towards foreign policy hawks who advocate for increased tensions with Iran, maintaining that the U.S. should avoid war with Tehran at all costs. This ongoing debate highlights the complexities of balancing national security interests with the principles of America First, a doctrine that remains central to Trump's political identity.
Login