Former Fox News figures Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin engaged in a public dispute on Wednesday, June 4, regarding Iran policy. Carlson accused Levin of lobbying the White House for military action.
Carlson took to social media to claim that Levin has no intention of fighting in any war, yet he is advocating for American troops to engage. This marks the latest escalation between two prominent conservatives who were colleagues at Fox News before Carlson’s departure in April 2023.
The former cable news host warned that Levin’s advice to President Trump could lead to thousands of American deaths. Carlson dismissed allegations about Iran’s nuclear threat, asserting there is no credible intelligence suggesting Iran is near building nuclear weapons or has plans to do so.
He cautioned that military action against Iran could escalate into a global conflict, stating that “an attack on Iran could very easily become a world war” and that America could lose such a confrontation. Carlson highlighted Iran’s connections to Russia and China through BRICS, arguing the nation is not isolated and warning that the first week of war could result in thousands of American casualties.
Levin, host of “Life, Liberty & Levin” on Fox News and a member of Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, has consistently warned about Iran’s nuclear program. On his Sunday show, he claimed that Iran essentially possesses nuclear weapons.
The Fox News host referenced confidential reports indicating Iran has nearly doubled its stockpile of nuclear-grade uranium over three months while in negotiations with the Trump administration. According to intelligence documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Austrian security services reported Iran is pursuing comprehensive nuclear rearmament and has expanded missile capabilities to deliver nuclear warheads over long distances.
The two men’s relationship started to deteriorate following a May disagreement over Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff’s use of the term “neocon.” Levin criticized the terminology, stating that “neocon is a pejorative for Jew” and described its use as unbelievable. This prompted Carlson to respond, suggesting the situation had reached peak insanity.
In his radio show in May, Levin responded with personal attacks against Carlson, calling him names and warning against twisting his words. Levin repeatedly referred to Carlson using Rush Limbaugh’s nickname “Chatsworth Osborne Jr.” during his response. Levin explained his concern about the term “neocon,” noting that many original neoconservatives were former left-wing Democratic Jews.
Levin defended his stance on Iran policy, asserting that Americans opposing the Iranian regime’s acquisition of nuclear weapons are not warmongers but patriots. He expressed hope that Trump could negotiate a solution that previous administrations could not achieve, while remaining skeptical about diplomatic success given Iran’s history of violating agreements.
Carlson concluded his statement by urging Trump to resist war advocates, labeling them as scary people and asking for prayers that Trump would ignore them. He argued that war with Iran would contradict Trump’s campaign promises as a peace candidate and could end his presidency. Carlson suggested that Trump’s adversaries might be pushing for war precisely because it could harm his administration.
The dispute reflects broader foreign policy divisions within Trump’s movement between interventionist and isolationist factions. Both men maintain influence through different channels: Levin through his official advisory role and Fox News platform, and Carlson through his independent media network, established after leaving Fox News in 2023.
The administration faces pressure from multiple directions as it develops Iran policy. Trump’s appointees include both hawks who favor aggressive action and those who prefer diplomatic solutions. The president has expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate deals that previous administrations could not achieve while maintaining that all options remain available.
Both Carlson and Levin have built substantial audiences through their respective media platforms since their time together at Fox News. Their public disagreement highlights the challenges faced by conservative media figures as they navigate complex foreign policy questions while maintaining their political influence and audience appeal in an evolving media landscape.
