Tucker Carlson Says He Is Launching New Political Party After Break With Trump and Republicans

Conservative commentator and podcaster Tucker Carlson says he plans to help create a new political party following his public split with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party over the conflict with Iran.

“I’m going to help build a third party,” Carlson said in an interview published Wednesday. “There should be a good-faith effort to figure out what benefits the country.”

The former Fox News host argued that Democrats and Republicans are largely united on what he views as the country’s two most important issues: war and finance.

“When it comes to war and finance, they’re in lockstep solidarity with each other,” Carlson said. “That’s not a democracy. That’s a one-party state posing as a democracy, and it needs to be broken.”

Carlson added that he intends to do “everything I can” to bring about a viable third-party movement.

His comments come after months of increasingly sharp criticism of Trump and Republicans over US military action involving Iran.

During an appearance on a podcast last month, Carlson said there was “no chance” he would continue supporting the GOP following the conflict.

A lifelong Republican, Carlson argued that the United States had been drawn into war because of foreign policy pressures and accused party leaders of putting foreign interests ahead of American priorities.

“At this point, how could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States?” Carlson said at the time.

He indicated that any new political movement he supports would focus primarily on domestic issues and improving conditions for ordinary Americans.

“The US government should have, as its first priority, the welfare of its own people,” Carlson said.

Despite the announcement, Carlson made clear he has no interest in becoming a candidate himself.

“I don’t want to be a candidate,” he said, joking that he had considered announcing a campaign “just to make sure I gain no new fans.”

The deteriorating relationship between Carlson and Trump has led to public attacks from both sides in recent months.

Trump has previously referred to Carlson as a “nut job” and a “hand flailing fool” following the commentator’s criticism of the administration’s foreign policy decisions.

Their falling out marks a dramatic shift after years in which Carlson was viewed as one of Trump’s most influential media allies.