Tucker Carlson walked back into the political spotlight this week, and it didn’t take long for tensions inside the MAGA movement to flare up again.
His Friday visit to Donald Trump at the White House — complete with a smiling photo op in the Oval Office — quickly turned into fresh fuel for an already simmering conservative civil war.
A Friendly White House Visit That Raised Eyebrows
Photos shared by the Tucker Carlson Network showed the former Fox News host looking relaxed and upbeat during his meeting with Trump.
He was also seen chatting comfortably with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles appeared to be part of the gathering as well.
To supporters, the images suggested Carlson still has Trump’s ear.
To critics, they signaled something far more troubling.
The ADL Fires Back Hard
The Anti-Defamation League wasted no time condemning Carlson’s presence at the White House.
Posting on X, the organization said Carlson “should have no place in the White House,” accusing him of amplifying antisemitic narratives over the years.
The statement reignited long-running criticism tied to Carlson’s controversial guest choices and rhetoric.
Old Wounds Reopened Over Nick Fuentes
Much of the backlash traces back to Carlson’s decision to host far-right provocateur and white supremacist Nick Fuentes on his show.
That move drew fierce condemnation from within conservative circles, particularly from Fox News host Mark Levin, who branded Carlson a “Nazi promoter.”
Levin’s anger resurfaced after news of Carlson’s White House visit, underscoring just how personal and ideological this feud has become.
Megyn Kelly Adds Fuel With Sarcasm
Former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly couldn’t resist weighing in.
She mocked Levin’s outrage, joking that the news would likely give him “an aneurysm.”
Kelly has openly acknowledged a long-standing rift with Levin dating back to their Fox News days and has recently criticized him for going after fellow MAGA figures as internal divisions deepen.
Online Jabs and Growing Personal Attacks
The drama didn’t stop there.
Under one of Carlson’s Instagram posts, his nicotine pouch company, ALP, shared a video comment that appeared to mock conservative activist Laura Loomer — another sign that the infighting has turned deeply personal as well as political.
Foreign Policy Drives a Major Wedge
Beyond personalities, ideology is also at the heart of the conflict.
Levin has emerged as a vocal advocate for stronger U.S. military action abroad, especially against Iran.
Carlson, by contrast, has aligned himself with a more isolationist, anti-interventionist wing of conservatism.
Levin has argued forcefully that Americans don’t want Iran gaining nuclear weapons or missile technology capable of striking the U.S., a stance that puts him squarely at odds with Carlson’s worldview.
Levin Unleashes a Scathing Rant
The hostility escalated further when Levin lashed out at Carlson over comments involving Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East.
While insisting he supports free speech, Levin delivered a blistering message, calling Carlson a “schmuck” and accusing him of twisting his words in bad faith.
Kelly Publicly Stands by Carlson
While some conservatives try to push Carlson out of the movement, Kelly has gone the opposite direction.
She appeared alongside him at a live taping of her podcast in New York last November, enthusiastically telling the audience that Carlson was “back and bigger than ever.”
Carlson Explains His Fuentes Decision
During that live event, Carlson addressed why he hosted Fuentes in the first place.
He claimed he didn’t know much about Fuentes beyond the fact that Fuentes had attacked his family.
Carlson argued that, like it or not, Fuentes wields enormous influence among young men — a point Kelly supported by noting Fuentes’ massive following on the conservative platform Rumble.
Ben Shapiro Draws a Red Line
Not everyone was willing to let the issue slide.
At Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference, Ben Shapiro forcefully called out Carlson for giving Fuentes a platform, arguing that hosting someone he described as a Hitler apologist demands accountability.
Shapiro went further, lumping Carlson, Kelly, Candace Owens, and Steve Bannon together as “frauds” and “grifters.”
Carlson Fires Back From the Same Stage
Carlson didn’t stay silent.
Speaking after Shapiro at the same event, he dismissed his former ally as “pompous” and defended the idea of asking uncomfortable questions without being forced into what he called ritual denunciations — a thinly veiled shot at what he sees as ideological purity tests.
Trump Tries to Walk the Middle Line
Donald Trump has largely avoided taking a clear public side in the MAGA feud.
Still, he told The New York Times recently that he doesn’t believe extremists like Fuentes belong in the movement.
He emphasized his family ties to Judaism, pointing to his daughter Ivanka, her conversion, and his Jewish grandchildren as evidence that he rejects antisemitism.
At the same time, Trump downplayed his own past dinner with Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, saying he didn’t really know him.
Activist Groups Turn Up the Pressure
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has continued to criticize Trump’s association with Fuentes, calling Carlson and Candace Owens “disgusting” while praising Levin and Shapiro for pushing back against antisemitic rhetoric.
The activist group StopAntisemitism went even further, naming Carlson its Antisemite of the Year last year, with Owens receiving the label in 2024.
Conspiracies and Another Flashpoint
The divisions have also spilled into debates surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Owens has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories blaming Israel or shadowy forces for the killing, drawing sharp rebukes from Shapiro, who accused those staying silent of cowardice.
What Comes Next for MAGA?
With Carlson welcomed by Trump, rejected by others, and defended by a few influential allies, the MAGA movement appears more fractured than ever.
The question now isn’t just who’s right or wrong — it’s whether this internal war can stay contained, or if it will permanently reshape the future of conservative politics.
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