Pressure Mounts for Buckley Carlson

Buckley Carlson, son of Tucker Carlson, holds a position as a deputy press secretary in Vice President J.D. Vance’s office. Recently, there seems to be a growing movement aimed at calling for his removal, primarily due to his family ties.

As the calls intensify for Buckley to publicly distance himself from his father—perhaps even to denounce some of Tucker’s remarks—Vance and other conservatives have been vocal in supporting him. They’ve made it clear they’re not going to throw Buckley under the bus.

Vance remarked, “You do not impute to him any hatred towards the father, nor do you ask your sons to disown their fathers and mothers.” He defended his staff multiple times, explaining that he values a broad range of opinions but cannot tolerate attacks on his team, stating: “And yes, *everyone* who watched me attack Buckley with lies sucks.”

In recent times, he addressed comments from Jennifer Sloan Lakmas regarding Carlson’s visits to the Oval Office. Lakmas, a Republican operative and journalist, had been arrested on cyberstalking charges which were later dismissed. She criticized the Carlson family, suggesting that “Racism and anti-Semitism are hallmarks of the Carlson family,” and raised questions about Buckley’s character.

Rakumas criticized Vance’s connection to Buckley, hinting that the pressure might stem more from the Carlson family’s reputation than from Vance’s administration. He called for transparency regarding the Carlsons’ views on race and religion.

Some took to social media to defend Buckley. Republican Senator Jim Banks from Indiana pointed out that Buckley has been a dedicated staffer for years, labeling the personal attacks as “disgusting.” Moreover, Christina Pushaw, an aide to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, chimed in, suggesting that if staffers were accountable for family members’ online conduct, many would be in hot water.

So, amidst the hit pieces targeting Tucker Carlson in the media—largely fueled by his controversial interviews—Vance maintained a steadfast position. Trump, when asked about Tucker’s content choices, remarked that it’s ultimately up to the viewers to make the call on matters of interviews.

It’s complicated. The conversations around family, loyalty, and public perception weave a tangled web. For Buckley, it appears he’s caught in the crosshairs of his father’s notoriety and the political landscape that swirls around it.