Commentary from the Waffle House; Tucker Turns on Trump

The primary rift in the MAGA ecosystem involving Tucker Carlson stems from his vocal opposition to President Trump’s military involvement in the Iran war (and related Israel-aligned actions), which many see as a betrayal of the “America First”/no new wars campaign promise. Carlson has escalated this by publicly expressing regret for helping elect Trump, stating he was “misled” people and will be “tormented” by his role in it.

This has triggered counter-criticism from Trump himself (who called Carlson and similar figures “low IQ,” “losers,” “stupid,” and “not MAGA”) and from pro-Trump MAGA-aligned commentators who view Carlson’s stance as isolationist, anti-Israel, or opportunistic.

Commentators Criticizing Tucker Carlson
Ben Shapiro (Daily Wire): Has called out Carlson (along with Megyn Kelly and others) as exhibiting “moral cowardice,” labeling critics of the Iran actions as “grifters and frauds.” Newsmax has amplified Shapiro’s side in the feud. Shapiro has also criticized broader “woke right” or isolationist turns in MAGA media.

Mark Levin: Mocked Megyn Kelly (a Carlson ally in the criticism) as a “Crazy Grandma Groyper” and engaged in personal attacks amid the Iran debate. Fox’s Sean Hannity has distanced himself, saying Carlson is “not the person I knew” at Fox.

Scott Jennings (CNN conservative commentator, often aligned with MAGA viewpoints): Called Carlson a “moron” for regretting his Trump support and questioned whether Carlson would have preferred Kamala Harris as president.

Victor Davis Hanson: Has pushed back on the “defectors” in MAGA (including Carlson’s circle), arguing they mischaracterize the Iran operation and should know better than to fracture the movement over it.

Laura Loomer and other hardline pro-Israel MAGA voices: Have directly attacked Carlson-aligned figures like Kelly (“Shut up you stupid b***h,” “not MAGA”) and broader isolationist criticism.

Charlie Kirk (pre-assassination context) and Turning Point USA circles: Have been part of broader tensions, with past events like AmericaFest featuring clashes where pro-Israel voices criticized Carlson/Owens/Kelly lines. Some pro-Trump TPUSA figures aligned against the anti-Iran war faction.

Other pro-Trump voices (e.g., certain Fox remnants or Trump defenders) have echoed that Carlson has “lost his way” on foreign policy and is positioning for a post-Trump era.

Trump has lumped Carlson in with Owens, Jones, and Kelly as outsiders to true MAGA. This tension predates Iran somewhat, but the war amplified it into open feuds with personal insults flying both ways. Carlson’s critics frame him as shifting toward paleoconservative isolationism or anti-Israel territory that alienates neoconservative or strongly pro-Israel elements within the broader right. Carlson’s defenders see the critics as neocons or grifters abandoning core non-interventionist promises.

MAGA media has long had internal tensions (paleocon vs. neocon, populist vs. establishment), but the Iran conflict exposed them publicly in 2026. Not every commentator has “turned against” Carlson—many remain aligned or neutral—but the loudest pushback has come from the pro-Trump, pro-Israel interventionist wing. The situation remains fluid, with polling and midterm implications potentially shifting dynamics further.