President Donald Trump has publicly pushed back against criticism from two of his most prominent former allies, Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, exposing a growing rift inside the MAGA movement following U.S. strikes on Iran.
The unusually direct rebuke came during a phone interview with journalist Rachael Bade, in which Trump dismissed the influence of both Carlson and Kelly and questioned their standing within the MAGA base. According to Bade, the president said Kelly “ought to study her history book a little bit,” while Carlson’s criticism “has no impact on me.”
Trump went further, drawing a sharp line over who he believes represents his movement. “I think that MAGA is Trump, MAGA’s not the other two,” he said, referring to Carlson and Kelly. “MAGA wants to see our country thrive and be safe. And MAGA loves what I’m doing, every aspect of it.”
The comments marked a striking escalation in tensions between Trump and media figures who once played central roles in amplifying his message. Both Carlson and Kelly have recently raised concerns about the administration’s decision to launch strikes against Iran, with Kelly openly questioning whether the move aligned with “America First” principles.
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Kelly, speaking to her audience earlier this week, asked why the operation was carried out now and challenged its justification. “Why are we doing this now? What was the catalyst?” she said, adding that she had “serious doubts” about the mission despite supporting Trump politically in the past.
Trump dismissed those concerns, telling Bade that Kelly had opposed him during his first presidential run and that dissent from familiar figures was nothing new. “Some people are against, and they always come back,” he said confidently.
The dispute spilled further into public view after far-right activist Laura Loomer posted a lengthy message on X celebrating Trump’s response and portraying Carlson and Kelly as outsiders to the MAGA movement. Loomer said she personally spoke to Trump after the Iran strikes and showed him commentary from critics within conservative media.
According to Loomer, the president was unhappy with what he saw but remained focused on winning politically rather than engaging internal critics. Her post framed the moment as a long-awaited reckoning within MAGA, characterizing the backlash as part of a broader “woke” opposition.
Trump, for his part, defended the Iran operation as necessary, describing it as “a detour that we have to take in order to keep our country safe and keep other countries safe, frankly.”
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The White House has since launched an aggressive communications effort to justify the strike, with senior officials emphasizing that the action is limited in scope and not comparable to past prolonged conflicts in the Middle East. Vice President JD Vance reinforced that message during an appearance on Fox News, saying the operation is “not Iraq or Afghanistan 2.0.”
Administration officials have indicated that additional high-profile figures will continue making the case publicly, alongside regular briefings from the Pentagon.
President Trump now appears unmoved; he staked his claim as the sole voice of MAGA, signaling that loyalty to him, rather than agreement among conservative influencers, defines the movement’s future.
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