The journalist gathers in Maine some of the Trumpists most critical of the president and publishes a ten-point manifesto. Behind Carlson’s moves there could be the birth of a third party, but also a strategy to weigh on the Republican succession and favor JD Vance
La Rubrica - Outside the Beltway: cronache e analisi di politica Usa
Is Tucker Carlson aiming to start his own party? At the beginning of August, the well-known journalist brought together, in his estate in Maine, various exponents of the Maga world who have come into conflict with Donald Trump: from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Thomas Massie, passing through Joe Kent. “We said no more foreign wars and we meant it, and we supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he betrayed us all. The movement has begun,” Greene herself commented. Not only that. Carlson also published a sort of manifesto containing his ten-point vision for America.
It was the end of June when the journalist announced his farewell to the Republican Party. In the previous months he had also come to terms with Trump, above all due to the war in Iran. A few days later, Carlson explicitly hinted that he could contribute to the founding of an alternative party to both the Republicans and the Democrats. Now, with the recent meeting in Maine and the publication of the manifesto, the hypothesis that the journalist could decide to take a similar step is once again gaining traction. What should we expect?
It is quite clear that, should he choose to create a third party, Carlson would primarily target disillusioned Trumpists. Although the American president still maintains a strong hold on the Maga base, some of its more isolationist and anti-system elements may follow Carlson. Not only that. The journalist’s harsh criticism of Israel could help him gain some votes even among far-left voters. In this case, it remains to be understood what its ultimate objective would be.
Notoriously, representatives of third parties have not chances concrete plans to get to the White House. Carlson could then move for two reasons. The first would be to act as a disturbing element to cripple the Republicans in 2028. It could, in other words, try to carve out the role that Ross Perot had: the billionaire who, running as an independent candidate in the 1992 presidential elections, prevented de facto George HW Bush to be reappointed to the White House.
The second reason behind Carlson’s maneuvers could instead be more subtle and Machiavellian. It is no mystery that the journalist has historic ties with JD Vance (he was among those who convinced Trump to choose him as running mate in 2024). Now, it is well known that the vice president has always been skeptical about the war in Iran. Furthermore, his harsh criticism of the Israeli government aims to give voice to the wing of the Maga less inclined to the ongoing conflict. Carlson himself, in recent weeks, has continued to say generally positive words for the current number two in the White House. Well, it cannot be excluded that the journalist wants to attract the vote of disappointed Trumpists to then have it channeled, in due time, to Vance and thus hinder Marco Rubio’s race towards the nominations Republican presidential election. Political fantasy? Maybe yes. Or maybe not.
