At odds with Trump over the war in Iran, the conservative journalist said goodbye to the GOP. What will be his next moves?
Tucker Carlson has said goodbye to the Republican Party. “The polls are now clear. I wouldn’t support the Republican Party, there’s no chance,” he said, then added: “Not because I support the Democratic Party. I don’t know what I’ll do.” “I’ve voted Republican all my life, I’ve worked at Fox News… I’ve been a consistent defender of the Republican Party for 35 years, but that can’t be defended because it’s immoral,” he continued.
Once a staunch ally of Donald Trump, the journalist broke with the current American president following the war in Iran, claiming that the United States would allow itself to be dragged into the conflict by Israel. Following Carlson in his decision to abandon the Republican Party was, a few hours later, former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene: also once an iron Trumpist, she broke with the current occupant of the White House last year on various fronts (from Middle Eastern politics to inflation, passing through Jeffrey Epstein’s files).
Furthermore, it is no mystery that Carlson and Greene represent the leaders of that part of the Maga political-media world that felt betrayed by Trump above all because of the war in Iran. It must be said that, at least at the moment, the Trumpist electoral base remains largely loyal to the president. However, it cannot be ruled out that, especially if the Iranian crisis is not resolved quickly, some fractures could arise at this level too.
And meanwhile there are those who think that Carlson could harbor presidential ambitions. In recent months, he has denied it. Not only that. Already six years ago, rumors were circulating about the possibility that he could run for the White House in 2024: an indiscretion that did not materialize. Indeed, that year he fervently supported Trump’s candidacy and was also among the speakers at the final evening of the Conventions Milwaukee Republican National. However, his farewell to the Republican Party did not go unnoticed.
The betting site Polymarket notes that Carlson currently has a 6% chance of winning thenominations Republican presidential election: which would place the journalist in third place behind JD Vance (37%) and Marco Rubio (21%). Of course, this is not a survey. But the data is still significant. Without then mentioning that, in this case, Carlson could run as an independent. A scenario, the latter, which would almost certainly not lead him to the White House but which could allow him to suck precious votes from the main contenders in the race (especially the Republican one).
We are obviously talking about pure hypotheses. Carlson may also reconcile with Trump. Or he could decide to support Vance, with whom he historically enjoyed excellent relations. Not to mention that, at least on a general level, the journalist remains (relatively) close to the vice president from a political point of view. Who knows, therefore, in the primaries, Carlson might side with the current number two in the White House. Whatever the case, only time will tell what the real political-electoral impact of his farewell to the Republican Party will be.
