Tucker Carlson has flatly denied President Donald Trump’s claim that he called Trump to apologize after publicly criticizing the administration’s foreign policy stance on Iran. The dispute emerged during a German news interview released Sunday, where Carlson directly contradicted Trump’s account of their interactions.
During an interview with German publication Bild, Carlson was asked whether Trump’s tale about receiving an apology call was true. The former Fox News host responded with a clear denial, stating simply: “Okay… no.” When pressed for confirmation by deputy editor-in-chief Paul Ronzheimer, Carlson reiterated his position and explained he saw no reason to apologize for his previous statements.
The disagreement stems from a broader MAGA civil war that erupted in June over Trump’s hawkish approach to the Israel-Iran conflict. Carlson emerged as one of the most prominent voices opposing Trump’s decision to support Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, joining other America First advocates like Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in condemning potential military involvement.
Trump had claimed during a June 18 Oval Office session with reporters that Carlson reached out to make amends for his criticism. The president indicated that Carlson acknowledged his comments were too strong and apologized for the rebuke. Trump characterized the call as evidence that even his critics recognized the necessity of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
However, Carlson’s version of events differs significantly. In the Bild interview, he explained that while he is generally willing to apologize when wrong, he could not identify anything requiring an apology in this situation. Carlson emphasized that he disagreed with Trump’s policy but did not attack the president personally, describing his position as legitimate policy disagreement rather than personal criticism.
The conflict began when Trump backed Israel’s military campaign against Iran and eventually authorized bombing Iranian nuclear facilities in support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This decision sparked fierce opposition from America First supporters who viewed it as contradicting Trump’s campaign promises to avoid foreign entanglements.
Carlson appeared on Steve Bannon’s podcast in June, expressing deep concerns about American involvement in the conflict. He warned that military action against Iran could weaken the United States and potentially lead to the end of American global influence. Bannon, Trump’s former campaign chief executive officer, echoed these concerns, arguing that the American people were not prepared for another foreign war.
The dispute intensified when Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Carlson as “kooky” for opposing potential military action against Iran. Trump argued that those opposing intervention failed to understand that peace was impossible if Iran obtained nuclear weapons. This public attack prompted Greene to defend Carlson, stating that opposition to foreign wars represented core America First principles.
The broader MAGA movement split revealed tensions between traditional Republican foreign policy hawks and Trump’s America First base. Senators like Lindsey Graham and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell advocated for supporting Israel with military force, while prominent MAGA figures like Carlson and Greene argued that such involvement contradicted the movement’s anti-interventionist principles.
Carlson’s contentious exchange with Senator Ted Cruz further highlighted these divisions. During a June interview, Carlson challenged Cruz’s support for military action against Iran, questioning whether supporters of intervention truly understood the consequences of their positions. The heated discussion demonstrated how deeply the Iran issue had divided conservative voices within the Republican Party.
Despite Trump’s later characterization of Carlson as a “nice guy” following the alleged apology call, Carlson’s public statements in the German interview suggest no reconciliation occurred. The media personality maintained that he continues to support Trump personally while disagreeing with specific policy decisions, particularly regarding foreign military intervention.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment regarding the conflicting accounts of the alleged phone call. The dispute represents a significant rift within the MAGA movement, with core supporters challenging Trump’s foreign policy decisions based on the same America First principles that initially brought them together during his 2016 campaign.