Tucker Carlson has categorically denied President Donald Trump’s claim that he called to apologize following their public disagreement over the administration’s Iran policy, delivering a direct rebuttal that contradicts the president’s account of their relationship during a heated foreign policy dispute.
The dispute emerged from a broader MAGA civil war over Trump’s hawkish approach to the Israel-Iran conflict last month. Trump backed Israel’s striking of Iran and eventually authorized bombing Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision that drew sharp criticism from prominent America First supporters.
Carlson was among the most prominent figures to publicly challenge Trump’s foreign policy stance, joining Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and former White House strategist Steve Bannon in condemning potential American military involvement in Iran. The conservative backlash highlighted divisions within the MAGA movement over foreign military engagement.
Following Carlson’s criticism, Trump claimed during a June 18 Oval Office press briefing that the former Fox News host had contacted him to express regret for his harsh commentary. Trump told reporters that Carlson was a nice guy who called and apologized because he thought he had said things that were too strong, and Trump appreciated the gesture.
However, during a recent interview with German publication Bild, Carlson flatly contradicted Trump’s version of events. When asked directly by deputy editor-in-chief Paul Ronzheimer whether Trump’s tale was accurate, Carlson responded with a simple denial.
The journalist pressed for clarification, prompting Carlson to elaborate on his position. He indicated that while he genuinely likes Trump and campaigned for him, he disagreed with the president on this particular issue. Carlson said, “I don’t know what I’d apologize for.”
Carlson explained that he considers himself willing to acknowledge his mistakes and limitations, describing himself as someone who is happy to apologize when warranted. However, he maintained that his disagreement with Trump’s Iran policy did not constitute an attack that would require an apology.
The Iran conflict has created significant tension within Trump’s political coalition. Conservative media figures and MAGA supporters have expressed concerns about American involvement in foreign wars, arguing that such engagement contradicts the movement’s America First principles. Bannon specifically identified stopping “forever wars” as one of three core planks of the MAGA movement.
The disagreement intensified when Trump initially labeled Carlson “kooky” in a Truth Social post for opposing potential military action against Iran. However, Trump later changed his tone, calling Carlson a nice guy following what he claimed was an apology call from the conservative commentator.
Greene defended Carlson against Trump’s criticism, arguing that opposition to foreign wars and intervention represents core America First values that millions of Americans voted for. Her defense of Carlson marked an unusual moment of public disagreement between the Georgia congresswoman and Trump.
The broader conservative split over Iran policy has featured heated exchanges between various MAGA figures and traditional Republican hawks. Carlson engaged in a particularly contentious interview with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, where they clashed over Trump’s response to the Iran-Israel conflict and the appropriate level of American military involvement.
Traditional Republican foreign policy advocates, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Lindsey Graham, have urged Trump to take more aggressive action against Iranian nuclear facilities. Conservative media personalities like Mark Levin and Hugh Hewitt have similarly encouraged forceful American military support for Israel.
The dispute reflects broader tensions within the Republican Party between interventionist and isolationist approaches to foreign policy. Trump’s America First movement has generally advocated for reduced American involvement in foreign conflicts, but the Iran situation has tested those principles against longstanding American support for Israel.
Carlson’s categorical denial of Trump’s apology claim represents a rare direct contradiction of a sitting President’s public statements by a prominent supporter. The former Fox News host has maintained his position that American military involvement in Iran would be detrimental to the country’s interests, despite pressure from both the administration and the traditional Republican foreign policy establishment.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding Carlson’s denial of the alleged apology call.
