Tensions flared between Sen. Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson during a combative interview about Israel’s military campaign against Iran. The discussion highlighted a growing divide among President Trump’s allies over how far the U.S. should go in supporting the conflict. Carlson, known for his skepticism of foreign wars, grilled Cruz on his support for Israeli strikes and whether he truly understood the consequences of toppling Iran’s regime.
Cruz backed Israel’s offensive and didn’t shy away from saying he wants the Iranian government gone. But Carlson pushed back, accusing the senator of speaking recklessly without knowing key facts. “You don’t know anything about Iran,” Carlson said sharply after Cruz failed to name the country’s population. When asked about Iran’s demographics, Cruz said they were predominantly Persians and Shia Muslims — but stumbled again when Carlson pressed for specifics.
“I don’t sit around memorizing population tables,” Cruz snapped. That didn’t stop Carlson from continuing the challenge. “You don’t know the population of the country you seek to topple?” he pressed again. Cruz tried to laugh it off but the exchange turned increasingly hostile.
At one point, Cruz accused Carlson of having a “weird … obsession with Israel” after being asked about backing from AIPAC. Carlson took offense, implying Cruz was suggesting antisemitism — which the senator denied. Their argument swirled around whether Iran had tried to assassinate Mr. Trump, something Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently alleged and U.S. prosecutors claimed in charges last year.
Carlson argued that if Cruz really believed Iran had tried to kill Trump, he should be calling for immediate U.S. action — not just voicing outrage. Cruz defended his position, saying, “I want to stop a lunatic who wants to murder us from getting nuclear weapons that could kill millions of Americans.” Carlson replied, “You don’t know anything about the country whose government you want to overthrow, and you’re calling me reckless.”
After the interview aired on X, Cruz accused Carlson of trying to land a “gotcha” moment with the population question and mocked the line of questioning. But the disagreement underscores a deeper rift inside the MAGA camp about the right strategy toward Iran. While Trump has often spoken against endless wars, he’s also floated possible strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Sen. Lindsey Graham supports diplomacy first but told CBS News he would back Trump “going all in” if talks fail. Cruz told Carlson he doesn’t want to send U.S. troops into Iran, but also said Trump could “reasonably” choose to bomb the Fordo nuclear site. Others like Steve Bannon remain staunchly opposed to intervention, warning it could fracture the MAGA base and derail Trump’s domestic agenda.
A few congressional Republicans are even pushing for legislation to stop Trump from taking military action without congressional approval. Despite the internal debate, Trump brushed aside concerns about any rift. “My supporters are more in love with me today, and I’m in love with them,” he said on Wednesday.
And he didn’t hold back on Carlson either. Calling him “kooky” in a Truth Social post, Trump mocked his former ally’s relevance. “Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,” Trump said, dismissing the controversy — for now.