Supporters of the war in Iran have, without any supporting evidence, started to claim that Tucker Carlson is affiliated with the Iranian government.
This narrative gained traction over the weekend due, in part, to an anonymous account on X, which alleged that President Donald Trump was using Carlson’s supposed connections to Tehran to mislead Iranian leaders before a planned US attack. However, there’s no proof that Carlson has any ties to Iran.
This is just the latest criticism directed at Carlson from those advocating for the war, who have attempted to label the former Fox News host as anti-Semitic and a mouthpiece for foreign Islamist regimes, framing him as a negative influence within the MAGA movement.
The war began on February 28, resulting in the swift removal of numerous senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. President Trump has since ordered targeted strikes throughout Iran and repeatedly declared “total victory,” yet the Iranian government’s stance remains unchanged. The conflict has disrupted global energy markets as Iran continues its aggression toward neighboring countries and has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Carlson has openly criticized the war, referring to it as “disgusting and evil” and arguing that it serves no American interests. He even suggested that the war was instigated at Israel’s behest.
Josh Hammer from Newsweek and Will Chamberlain, an adviser to the Article 3 project, have both pushed this theory, garnering attention on X. Hammer did not reply to requests for comments, while Chamberlain offered no actual evidence aside from Carlson’s assertions.
The speculation further expanded when Carlson claimed that the CIA was monitoring his texts and connections to individuals in Iran leading up to an operation. He suggested that the agency was considering referring him to the Justice Department for being an “agent of a foreign power.” He remarked that the situation reflects a significant reduction in tolerance for dissent within the U.S. during wartime.
Axios correspondent Mark Caputo dismissed Carlson’s assertions, stating that there is no ongoing CIA investigation into him. In a related action, activist Laura Loomer reported Carlson to both the Justice Department and the FBI, insisting he is an unregistered foreign agent.
Moreover, there are claims that several congressional members have reached out to government bodies regarding Carlson, with Loomer expressing her hopes that he faces severe consequences.
Shortly after Carlson’s podcast was released, Chamberlain leveraged his claim of CIA monitoring to speculate that Trump may have utilized Carlson to mislead Iranian leaders about potential military actions.
Chamberlain, a strong supporter of the Trump administration’s stance on Iran, argued that Carlson had facilitated discussions with Iranians in preparation for war and highlighted Carlson’s claim that the CIA planned to pursue legal action against him.
Hammer echoed similar sentiments, raising questions about Carlson’s role, while he himself has long advocated for military action against Iran. He expressed that the ongoing measures against Iran were overdue, given the longstanding tensions.
Carlson responded emphatically, asserting that he is not an agent of any foreign power. He clarified that his loyalty lies solely with the United States and that he has never acted against its interests.
