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Senator Ted Cruz called Tucker Carlson “bat-crap crazy” and “a coward” in recent weeks. He accused him of antisemitism for platforming Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes. At the Republican Jewish Coalition in October, Cruz called Carlson “complicit in evil.”
Carlson’s response to Axios when asked about Cruz’s attacks: “Hilarious. Good luck. That’s my comment and heartfelt view.”
The feud isn’t personal. It’s ideological positioning for a primary fight over the soul of Trump’s movement: whether MAGA means George W. Bush-era interventionism with Trump branding, or genuine “America First” isolationism that challenges post-9/11 consensus on foreign policy.
Cruz is betting Republicans want the first version. Early polls suggest he’s wrong.
The Civil War Inside MAGA
Cruz has been relentlessly attacking Carlson for weeks – on social media, in speeches to GOP donors, at conservative activist gatherings. The targets are Carlson’s opposition to Trump’s Iran missile strikes, criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign, and support for ending Ukraine aid.
“On foreign policy, Tucker has gone bat-crap crazy,” Cruz said after appearing on Carlson’s podcast in June. “He’s gone off the rails.”
That podcast appearance Cruz likened to a “bloodbath.” Carlson grew furious when Cruz defended aggressive stances toward Iran and Israel. “It’s a very weird thing, the obsession with Israel,” Cruz grumbled, prompting Carlson to explode.
The break point came when Carlson interviewed Nick Fuentes, treating the white nationalist and Holocaust denier with “kid gloves” while Fuentes complained about “organized Jewry in America.” Carlson also denounced Christian Zionism – Cruz identifies as a Christian Zionist.
That interview fractured the Republican Party. Heritage Foundation saw resignations after its president initially defended Carlson. Cruz seized the moment to position himself as defender of traditional GOP foreign policy against what he called Carlson’s “growing cancer” of antisemitism.
Vance Is The Real Target
Vance is Carlson’s ally. Polls show him as heavy favorite for the 2028 GOP nomination. He adopts Carlson’s “America First” skepticism toward foreign intervention.
Cruz told the Federalist Society: “My colleagues, almost to a person, think what is happening is horrible, but a great many of them are frightened because he has one hell of a big megaphone.”
Translation: Senate Republicans privately agree with Cruz but won’t say so publicly because Carlson’s audience is massive and influential. Cruz is willing to absorb the cost of confronting that audience to differentiate himself from Vance.
The calculation requires believing GOP primary voters will reward someone who breaks with Carlson’s foreign policy views. That’s a risky bet when the Republican base has largely abandoned Bush-era interventionism.
Trump’s Sunday Defense Of Carlson
Trump defended Carlson Sunday when asked about the Fuentes interview. “You can’t tell him who to interview. If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out. People have to decide.”
Trump added: “Meeting people, talking to people for somebody like Tucker – that’s what they do. You know, people are controversial.” Then: “I’m not controversial, so I like it that way.”
That defense undercuts Cruz’s positioning. If Trump – whose movement Cruz claims to represent – defends Carlson’s right to platform white nationalists, Cruz’s attack looks like establishment Republican pushback against MAGA rather than defense of MAGA principles.
Cruz needs Trump’s base to win the 2028 primary. Trump just signaled those voters shouldn’t punish Carlson for the interview Cruz calls “complicit in evil.” That’s a problem for Cruz’s theory that attacking Carlson wins MAGA support.
The Donor Class Cruz Is Courting
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