Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson issued a warning on Monday, asserting that a potential U.S. military involvement in Israel’s offensive operations against Iran would not only derail President Donald Trump’s prospective second term but could also signal the “end of American Empire.”
However, President Trump quickly dismissed Carlson’s remarks, questioning his influence.
While taking questions from reporters at the G7, Trump was asked about Carlson’s claim that the President was “complicit in the war.” Trump retorted, “I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so people listen.”
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Speaking on “Bannon’s War Room” earlier, Carlson drew parallels to the Iraq War’s impact on former President George W. Bush’s administration, arguing that a conflict with Iran would similarly overshadow all of Trump’s domestic policy ambitions. This comes as Trump has offered mixed messages on U.S. involvement, stating on Sunday that American entry into the war was “possible” despite not currently being engaged.
“I am saying this because I’m really afraid that my country’s going to be further weakened by this. I think we’re going to see the end of American Empire, obviously,” Carlson stated, emphasizing his deep concern for the nation’s future. He added, “Other nations would like to see that — and this is a perfect way to scuttle the USS America on the shoals of Iran. But it’s also going to end, I believe, Trump’s presidency — and effectively end it — and so that’s why I’m saying this.”
Host Steve Bannon pressed Carlson to elaborate on his warning. Carlson referenced his past criticisms of Bush over the Iraq War, noting how that conflict became the defining aspect of Bush’s presidency, despite his numerous domestic policy aspirations.
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“He had all kinds of plans for the things that he wanted to do … domestically, to improve the country,” Carlson said of Bush, highlighting how war can consume a president’s agenda. Bannon concurred, pointing to Bush’s intentions to address Social Security and entitlements.
Carlson further expressed significant concern about the U.S. military’s readiness for a “real conflict.”
“The answer is totally unprepared. Scary unprepared,” he claimed. “I don’t think people understand that. But anyway, the only reason I’m saying any of this is because I really, really care.” He reiterated, “I just don’t want my country to be further weakened or destroyed by another one of these wars.”
These sentiments echo Carlson’s comments from a January 29 episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” where he stressed that avoiding wars with both Iran and Russia would be crucial for Trump to become “the most effective president” in U.S. history.
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He posited that a major conflict or a crisis akin to COVID-19 could severely disrupt a presidency, making effective governance impossible due to distraction and financial strain.
Trump, who campaigned on ending the Russia-Ukraine war and emphasized peacemaking in his second inaugural address, has consistently stated his desire to conclude existing conflicts and avoid new ones, aiming for a legacy as a “peacemaker and unifier.”
Carlson’s recent warnings underscore a significant concern among some conservatives that a war with Iran could fundamentally undermine these stated goals and have far-reaching negative consequences for the United States, a concern Trump appears to publicly brush aside. Sources
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