One of the most prominent voices in conservative media is officially breaking ties with the Republican Party.
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host and founder of the Tucker Carlson Network, announced that he is done with the GOP, predicting that his departure will signal a broader exodus of conservative voters who feel alienated by the party's current direction.
"I'm out," Carlson declared during an appearance on the "Can’t Be Censored" podcast, hosted by former Canadian journalists Travis Dhanraj and Karman Wong. While the episode was published on Thursday, his explosive remarks did not widely circulate online until Monday. "If I’m out, then I think a lot of other people are out, too," he added.
Carlson’s decision to sever ties with the GOP stems from a deepening frustration with the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly its staunch military and financial support for Israel and the ongoing armed conflict with Iran. Public opinion polling suggests these issues have become increasingly polarizing among the American electorate.
The independent commentator questioned the core loyalties of Republican lawmakers, suggesting they are prioritizing international interests over domestic concerns.
"How could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States," Carlson said on the podcast. "That puts the interests of a foreign country above those of its own citizens. It’s not possible to vote for people like that, and I’m not going to."
Tucker Carlson: I would not support the Republican party, there's no chance I would support the Republican party. How could I support a political party that is not loyal to the United States. I voted Republican my entire life, I have been a consistent defender for 35 years of the… pic.twitter.com/dYX0DK9XAx
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While Carlson was once a fierce defender and key ally of Donald Trump, his relationship with the administration has steadily deteriorated since his departure from Fox News in 2023. The rift widened significantly after the president launched military operations against Iran earlier this year, prompting Carlson to express deep regret for his past political advocacy.
"You know, we’ll be tormented by it for a long time – I will be," Carlson recently admitted on "The Tucker Carlson Show," referring to his past support for the president. "And I want to say I’m sorry for misleading people. It was not intentional, that’s all I’ll say."
In addition to foreign policy disputes, Carlson has expressed growing frustration with the administration's cultural and symbolic messaging. Earlier this year, he publicly rebuked the president after Trump shared an controversial AI-generated image depicting himself as a religious figure.
"It’s mockery," Carlson said at the time. "He’s mocking Jesus. He’s making fun of Christianity. The central figure of the religion is being held up for mockery."
Despite his public rejection of the Republican brand, Carlson made it clear that he has no intention of cross-aligning with the opposition. The commentator firmly rejected the idea of supporting the Democratic Party, leaving him in a state of political independence.
"I don’t know what I’m going to do," Carlson concluded, reflecting on his future as an independent voter in a highly polarized political landscape.