Tucker Carlson, the conservative media figure and former Fox News host, has publicly declared he will no longer support the Republican Party, a move that strips the party of one of its most prominent populist voices weeks before the November midterm elections. Speaking on the podcast “Can’t Be Censored,” Carlson said, “I’m out,” and warned that his defection after 35 years of consistent defence signals a wider disillusionment among voters. He did not endorse the Democratic Party and left his future political alignment unspecified.

Carlson attributed his break to the Trump administration’s decision in February to launch military operations against Iran, which he described as a war waged at the behest of Israel and corporate donors rather than in the interest of American citizens. According to his account, the Republican Party has become “not loyal” to the United States, committing what he called “treasonous” and “immoral” acts. He specifically argued that the conflict endangers US security while serving Israeli strategic objectives, a stance that, in his view, betrays the “America First” principle. Carlson had campaigned for Donald Trump in 2024 but later apologised for “misleading people,” stating he was “tormented” by his earlier support.

Viewed from Washington, the White House dismissed Carlson’s criticisms. President Trump said the commentator had “lost his way” and was no longer part of the MAGA movement, while a spokesman added that national security decisions are not guided by “fluid opinion polls or podcast hosts.” The rift extends beyond Carlson: former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has similarly accused the administration of backing Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza and abandoning the economic priorities of working-class voters. A CBS poll released this week indicates a majority of Americans believe the costs of the Iran war do not justify its outcome, lending weight to Carlson’s claim that his exit reflects broader public sentiment.

In European capitals, the public break is being monitored for signs of further erosion in the transatlantic consensus on Middle East policy, as US-Iran negotiations have reportedly stalled amid Israeli strikes on Lebanon. The episode exposes a deepening fracture between the non-interventionist wing of the Republican base and the party’s traditional pro-Israel establishment. With the midterms approaching, party strategists are assessing whether Carlson’s departure will depress turnout among populist voters or accelerate a realignment that could shape the 2028 presidential field. Carlson has not indicated any formal organisational next steps, but his warning that “a lot of other people are out” leaves the Republican coalition facing an unresolved internal contest over foreign policy and national loyalty.