Tucker Carlson just blew up his 35-year relationship with the Republican Party — and he says he isn’t bluffing.
On a recent episode of the Can’t Be Censored podcast, the conservative commentator and former Fox News host declared he is finished backing the GOP, accusing the party of putting another country’s interests ahead of America’s. The comments, recorded on June 18, 2026, didn’t go viral until days later — but once they did, they set off one of the loudest intra-MAGA fights of the year.
Here’s everything driving the split, what it means for Carlson’s politics going forward, and the backstory behind the man at the center of it.
Why Carlson Says He’ll No Longer Support the Republican Party
Carlson’s break comes down to one issue: Israel. He argues the GOP, under President Trump, has prioritized Israel’s national security over America’s own — pointing specifically to U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran.
On the podcast, Carlson didn’t hedge. “I would not support the Republican Party,” he said. “There’s no chance I would support the Republican Party.” He added that he has voted Republican his entire life and defended the party for 35 years, but called the current direction “immoral” and said he could no longer defend it.
His closing line is the one that’s been quoted everywhere since: “I’m out. And if I’m out, then I think a lot of other people are out, too.”
Carlson has spent recent months hammering this theme — claiming Trump’s 2024 campaign was bankrolled heavily by donors loyal to Israel, and suggesting that influence is now shaping decisions that don’t serve American interests. He’s also accused Iran’s regional adversaries of dragging the U.S. into a war he believes it has “effectively lost.” Critics, including some prominent conservative voices, have pushed back hard, with several accusing Carlson’s recent commentary of veering into antisemitism — a charge he denies.
The timing matters too. Carlson’s remarks land amid wider cracks in the MAGA coalition, as Trump’s handling of the Iran war and the economy continues to divide Republican voters and commentators alike.
Tucker Carlson a Republican or a Democrat?
Neither, at least for now. Carlson has been explicit that quitting the GOP doesn’t mean he’s joining the other side. “I’m not going to support the Democratic Party,” he said, adding that he isn’t sure how he’ll vote going forward.
That puts Carlson in an unusual lane: a lifelong conservative media figure who is publicly orphaned from both major parties. He hasn’t endorsed a third party, a write-in strategy, or sitting out elections altogether — he’s simply said the GOP, as currently led, no longer reflects what he believes in.
What Happened to Tucker Carlson? A Career Timeline
Early Life and Education
Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson was born on May 16, 1969, in San Francisco. He’s the son of Richard Carlson, a journalist and former U.S. ambassador, and grew up partly in La Jolla, California. Carlson attended boarding school at St. George’s School in Rhode Island before earning a degree in history from Trinity College in Connecticut in 1991. That same year, he married Susan Andrews; the couple has four children together.
Career in Journalism and Television
Carlson began in print journalism in the 1990s, writing for The Weekly Standard and other conservative outlets before becoming a CNN commentator and co-host of Crossfire in the early 2000s. He later hosted his own nightly show on MSNBC from 2005 to 2008. In 2010, he co-founded the conservative news site The Daily Caller, serving as its editor-in-chief until 2020.
He joined Fox News as a contributor in 2009 and eventually launched Tucker Carlson Tonight in 2016, which quickly became one of the highest-rated programs in cable news history.
The Rise — and Fall — of Tucker Carlson Tonight
At its peak, Tucker Carlson Tonight was a ratings powerhouse and a dominant force in shaping right-wing media narratives, covering everything from immigration to COVID-19 skepticism to the January 6 Capitol riot. Carlson’s commentary on these topics drew sustained criticism for promoting conspiracy theories and what many described as racially charged rhetoric, sparking advertiser boycotts over the years.
The show’s run ended abruptly in April 2023. Fox News announced it was “parting ways” with Carlson just days after settling Dominion Voting Systems’ $787.5 million defamation lawsuit, in which internal text messages from Carlson were aired publicly. He soon relaunched independently as The Tucker Carlson Show, which he has hosted on X and his own platform since 2023.
Other Allegations
Carlson’s Fox exit was tangled up with more than the Dominion case. A former senior booking producer on his show, Abby Grossberg, filed lawsuits alleging a sexist and hostile work environment, naming Carlson and his executive producer as defendants. Separately, reporting during this period revealed a top writer on Carlson’s show had been forced out after posting racist and homophobic commentary under a pseudonym, and that a staffer had a documented history of engaging with white-nationalist content online. Fox denied wrongdoing related to its own legal team’s conduct in the Grossberg matter.
Personal Life
Carlson lives primarily between Maine and Florida with his wife, Susan, and their children. In recent years he has become increasingly vocal about Middle East policy, and reports indicate he has been pursuing a residence in Qatar — a detail critics have tied directly to his shifting views on Israel and Iran.
Tucker Carlson Still a Trump Supporter?
Not anymore, at least not unconditionally. Carlson was once one of Trump’s most influential media allies and is widely credited with helping shape “America First” messaging. That relationship has frayed badly over the past year. Trump has publicly said Carlson “lost his way” and called him a “low IQ person,” while Carlson has accused Trump of abandoning his original platform by backing Israel’s military actions and has gone as far as suggesting Trump could be the “antichrist.” Carlson has also said he regrets encouraging people to support Trump, telling his own audience he’s sorry for “misleading” them — though he says it wasn’t intentional.
What Plane Crash Was Tucker Carlson On?
Carlson was involved in a plane crash on October 17, 2001, while landing in Dubai. He and his father were traveling back from reporting on the Taliban for a New York magazine story when the aircraft crash-landed on the runway. Both survived without serious injury, and Carlson has periodically retold the story in interviews and on his podcast in the years since.
Elon Musk a Libertarian?
It’s complicated. Musk rejects the “conservative” label and describes himself as a political moderate, but his economic views — cutting government spending, reducing regulation, lowering taxes — line up closely with limited-government libertarianism. He led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump on exactly those principles.
At the same time, analysts have noted Musk’s politics have moved sharply rightward in recent years, with some describing him as a “libertarian authoritarian” given his support for stricter immigration enforcement and his criticism of diversity initiatives. Musk has also flirted with building a third party — the “America Party” — as an alternative to both Republicans and Democrats, a move some commentators compared to Carlson’s own break from the GOP. So while Musk’s economic instincts are libertarian, his broader political identity doesn’t fit neatly into one box, and observers remain split on how to label him.
Trump Left-Wing or Right-Wing?
Donald Trump is broadly classified as right-wing, leading the Republican Party and the populist conservative movement often referred to as MAGA. His platform centers on lower taxes, deregulation, restrictive immigration policy, and “America First” nationalism — all standard markers of the political right. That said, some traditional conservatives argue his protectionist trade policies and willingness to expand certain government powers don’t fit cleanly into classical right-wing economic orthodoxy, which is part of why figures like Carlson have accused him of straying from “true” conservative or libertarian principles.
FAQ
Q1.Tucker Carlson a Trump supporter?
No, not anymore. Carlson was once one of Trump’s most influential media allies, but he has publicly broken with him over Israel and the U.S. role in the Iran war. He’s accused Trump of abandoning “America First” principles and has said he’s sorry for encouraging people to support him.
Q2.Why was Tucker Carlson fired from Fox News?
Fox News announced it was “parting ways” with Carlson in April 2023, days after settling Dominion Voting Systems’ $787.5 million defamation lawsuit, which exposed internal texts from Carlson. The exit also coincided with a sexism and hostile-workplace lawsuit filed by a former producer on his show, plus separate reporting on staff controversies.
Q3.How old is Tucker Carlson?
Tucker Carlson was born on May 16, 1969, in San Francisco. That makes him 57 years old as of June 2026.
Q4.Tucker Carlson married?
Yes. Carlson has been married to Susan Andrews since 1991; the couple met in high school. They have four children together: Lillie, Hopie, Buckley, and Dorothy.
Q5.Why is Tucker Carlson trending?
Carlson is trending after declaring on the Can’t Be Censored podcast that he’s permanently “out” of the Republican Party, accusing the GOP of prioritizing Israel’s interests over America’s. The comments have escalated his already public feud with President Trump and exposed wider cracks in the MAGA coalition.
Q6.What is Tucker Carlson doing now?
Carlson hosts The Tucker Carlson Show, an independent interview and commentary program he’s run on X and his own platform since leaving Fox News in 2023. He continues to publish long-form interviews — including a widely watched 2024 sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin — and remains an influential, if increasingly independent, voice on the right.
Q7.Where is Tucker Carlson now?
Carlson splits his time between homes in Maine and on Florida’s Gulf Coast. He has also reportedly been pursuing a residence in Qatar, a detail critics have linked to his increasingly vocal criticism of Israel and U.S. Middle East policy.
Q8.How tall is Tucker Carlson?
Most consistent estimates put Carlson at around 6 feet to 6 feet 1 inch (roughly 183–185 cm) tall. He has claimed 6’1″ himself, though exact figures vary slightly by source and have never been officially confirmed.
Conclusion
Tucker Carlson’s break from the Republican Party is less about switching sides and more about having no side left to stand on. He’s stated, in his own words, that he won’t back the GOP and won’t back Democrats either — leaving him, and potentially a chunk of his audience, politically homeless heading into future elections. Whether that “I’m out” moment turns into a broader exodus from the party Trump built, or just becomes another loud chapter in Carlson’s increasingly public falling-out with the president, is the question Washington will be watching closely in the months ahead.
Sanjoy Gorh – Founder & Editor, FinBuzz India
Sanjoy Gorh is the founder and editor of FinBuzz India (finbuzzindia.com), an independent digital news platform delivering accurate, clear, and timely news to readers across Assam, Northeast India, and beyond.
Driven by a deep passion for digital journalism, Sanjoy launched FinBuzz India with a clear mission: to give grassroots stories the attention they deserve and bring local voices to a national stage. Hailing from Assam, he brings hands-on, on-ground experience in news reporting, content creation, and digital media management.
His editorial focus spans Assam local news, Northeast India developments, government schemes and exam updates, finance, technology and AI, business and startups, sports, and national affairs — always with an emphasis on making important topics simple, relevant, and accessible to everyday readers.
At the heart of his work lies an unwavering commitment to factual, unbiased reporting. Sanjoy believes journalism’s greatest responsibility is building reader trust, and every story published on FinBuzz India reflects that belief.
With a vision to grow FinBuzz India into the most trusted digital news voice of Northeast India, Sanjoy continues to raise the bar, one story at a time.
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