Buckley Carlson, the son of prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has reportedly left his position within the Trump administration, specifically departing from his role as Vice President JD Vance's deputy press secretary. This exit coincides with a highly publicised and escalating feud between his father and former President Donald Trump, primarily centred on the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Exit Plans Predated Recent Tensions
According to a report from Politico, Buckley Carlson is leaving the White House to establish his own political consulting firm. A Vance official clarified to Politico's Playbook newsletter that his departure plans were formulated well before the recent public disagreements between Tucker Carlson and Trump intensified. "Buckley first informed the VP's office of his intention to depart in December, but stayed on for several months to ensure a smooth transition," the official stated.
Prior to his tenure with Vice President Vance, Buckley Carlson served as communications director for Representative Jim Banks of Indiana. The Independent has reached out to Buckley Carlson for comment on his career move.
The Tucker Carlson-Trump Feud Escalates
The professional departure of Buckley Carlson unfolds against a backdrop of severe rhetorical conflict between his father and the former president. Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News anchor who frequently supported Trump and Vance in the past, has recently become a vocal critic of Trump's handling of the Iran war.
Clash Over Easter Sunday Remarks
The friction became particularly visible when Carlson took issue with Trump's profane Easter Sunday social media threats against Iranian society, accusing the former president of overstepping his bounds. "Who do you think you are?" Carlson said on his show. "You're tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning? That's not your job. This is not a theocracy. We don't go to war with other theocracies to find out which theocracy is more effective. We are not a theocracy. And God willing, we never will be because theocracies corrupt the religion."
Trump's Retort and Carlson's Response
Trump swiftly responded on his Truth Social platform, directly naming Carlson and other critics of the Iran war. "They think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs," Trump wrote last Friday.
Carlson, in a characteristically provocative move, soon began selling baseball caps emblazoned with the phrase "LOW IQ." He further escalated the dispute during an appearance on Newsmax, where he compared Trump to a slave. "I've always liked Trump and still feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves," Carlson remarked. "He's hemmed in by other forces. He can't make his own decisions. It's awful to watch."
Broader Estrangement from the GOP
This very public feud is part of a longer-term estrangement between Tucker Carlson and the Republican Party. Last year, he caused significant controversy within and outside the GOP by conducting a friendly interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Carlson dismissed his critics at the time, instead levelling accusations at the Republican Party itself. He claimed the party had betrayed Trump's populist promises to cater to wealthy donors. "On the Republican Party, which is almost to the point where it's just useless, and I'm going to have to oppose it because I hate them too much, because they're such betrayers," Carlson told podcaster Shawn Ryan.
Conservative Media Criticism of Iran Policy
The Iran war has provoked criticism from several corners of conservative media, given Trump's past campaign promises to avoid unnecessary foreign military engagements. Figures like Carlson, along with other right-wing commentators such as Alex Jones and Megyn Kelly, have been vocal in their opposition to the conflict, highlighting a notable rift within the conservative movement regarding foreign policy.
