Former Fox News personalities Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin engaged in a public dispute Wednesday over Iran policy, with Carlson accusing Levin of lobbying the White House for military action.
Carlson posted on social media that “Mark Levin was at the White House today, lobbying for war with Iran” and added that Levin has no plans to fight in any war himself but is demanding American troops do it. The accusation represents the latest escalation between two prominent conservatives who worked together at Fox News before Carlson’s departure in April 2023.
The former cable news host warned that Levin’s advice to Trump could result in thousands of American deaths. Carlson dismissed claims about Iran’s nuclear threat, asserting there is no credible intelligence suggesting Iran is close to building nuclear weapons or has plans to do so.
He warned that military action against Iran could escalate into a global conflict, arguing that “an attack on Iran could very easily become a world war” and America would lose such a confrontation. Carlson emphasized Iran’s ties to Russia and China through BRICS, contending the country is not isolated and warning that the first week of war could kill thousands of Americans.
Levin, who hosts “Life, Liberty & Levin” on Fox News and serves on Trump’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, has repeatedly warned about Iran’s nuclear program. On his Sunday program, he declared that Iran essentially possesses nuclear weapons capability, stating, “for all intents and purposes, Iran now has a nuclear weapon.”
The Fox News host cited confidential reports showing Iran has roughly doubled its stockpile of nuclear-grade uranium over three months while negotiating with the Trump administration. According to intelligence documents reviewed by Fox News Digital, Austrian security services reported Iran is working toward comprehensive nuclear rearmament and possesses growing missile capabilities that could deliver nuclear warheads over long distances.
Their relationship deteriorated after a May dispute over Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff’s use of the term “neocon.” Levin criticized the language, posting that “neocon is a pejorative for Jew” and called the usage unbelievable. The comment sparked Carlson’s response that the situation had reached peak insanity.
During his radio show in May, Levin responded with personal attacks against his former colleague, calling him names and warning him not to twist his words. Levin repeatedly referred to Carlson using Rush Limbaugh’s nickname “Chatsworth Osborne Jr.” during his response. He explained his concern about the term “neocon,” arguing that many original neoconservatives were former left-wing Democratic Jews.
Levin defended his position on Iran policy, arguing that Americans who oppose the Iranian regime obtaining 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 Wednesday statement by urging Trump to resist war advocates, calling them 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. The former host suggested that Trump’s enemies might be advocating for war precisely because it could damage 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.
