Tucker Carlson has warned that the fallout from the Iran War will signal the 'end' of Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican movement. The influential conservative commentator spoke as the US President's popularity continues to wane amid rising fuel prices triggered by the deeply unpopular war in the Middle East.
Peace plan signed but damage done
The inconclusive conflict, which began in February, appears to have drawn to a close after Trump signed a 14-point peace plan last week. Despite this, Carlson warned that its fallout will continue to damage Trump and firebrand MAGA Republicans – which stands for Make America Great Again – who hail the former Apprentice host as their talisman.
Carlson, who formally broke with Trump's Republican Party this week, said he warned the president about the consequences of going to war when hostilities erupted in February. 'I said what he already knew,' Carlson said. 'I mean Trump is smart and I didn't tell Trump anything that he didn't know and understand… He understands big picture politics as well.'
MAGA movement 'over'
He went on to claim that the conflict also meant it was 'over' for the MAGA movement too, which is credited with creating a cult of personality around Trump and helping propel him to power. 'There is no future of the MAGA movement,' he said.
Just as George Bush Junior's presidency was tainted by the 2003 Iraq War and 2008 financial crisis, Trump's legacy would be stained by his conflict with Iran. 'What's the Bush presidency about?' Carlson said. 'It's about the Iraq War and the financial collapse of 2008. Those are its defining facts. 'And that will be you. It doesn't matter what else… you're the Iran War guy if you do this. 'He knew that. Boy, did he know that. But he did it anyways.'
Approval ratings plummet
Carlson spoke as a joint Economist/YouGov poll put Trump's approval rating at just 37% this week. Nearly 60% of Americans now disapprove of the president as the party braces for the November midterm elections. It said just 5% of voters are undecided.
The Iran War opened up deep fissures within the Republican Party, particularly amongst supporters who want America to abandon its mantle as the world's policeman. Carlson is firmly in this camp, arguing that his country's interventions abroad, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, are not in the US's interests.
Accusations of treason
Instead, he claims the US was led into an unwinnable conflict by others, including Israel, whose prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to remove the hardline Islamic clerics who rule the Middle Eastern nation. The former Fox News host said on his podcast: 'They are making decisions on the basis of other criteria, what's best for this company, what's best for Israel, what's best for our donors. 'That's not just, like, they are off in the wrong direction, like, that is unacceptable, that's treasonous, it's immoral, it can't continue. 'I've been a consistent defender for 35 years of the Republican Party, I mean very consistent defender, but there's no defending this. 'So no, I'm out. And if I'm out, then I think a lot of other people are out.'
