Tucker Carlson Urges Donald Trump's Removal over Nuclear Threats to Iran
Former Fox News host and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has surprisingly called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office immediately. The strong statement was prompted by Carlson’s concerns over the possibility of the United States military initiating the use of nuclear weapons in a conflict with Iran.
In The Tucker Carlson Show released on Friday (28/8) local time, Carlson stated that the discourse on the use of nuclear weapons constitutes an intolerable breach of limits. Although he had previously strongly opposed two impeachment attempts against Trump and called them absurd, this time he took a very different position.
Carlson asserted that any leader who suggests the first use of nuclear weapons has lost the right to lead. According to him, the risk of humanitarian destruction resulting from a nuclear attack is sufficient reason to demand immediate removal.
“Destroying all of humanity with a nuclear attack? So why is there no effort to remove him from office, like immediately?” Carlson said in the podcast. “I think that is a fair standard.”
Carlson claimed that discussions regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons have taken place at the Pentagon. He accused Trump of repeatedly signalling that nuclear weapons could be used against Iran, referring to Trump’s warning in April that, “All of civilisation will die tonight,” if Iran failed to meet US demands.
The statement marks a widening rift between Carlson and Trump, driven largely by disagreements over US foreign policy and the war with Iran. In June, Carlson even announced his resignation from the Republican Party and stated he would no longer support the party, while planning to help build a third party.
Earlier this month, Carlson also described nuclear war and artificial intelligence (AI) as the two greatest threats in history and criticised authority holders whom he considered fixated in responding to those threats.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have indeed continued to rise. Trump has repeatedly warned that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Although in late April Trump briefly stated there was no need to use nuclear weapons and that he wanted denuclearisation, other reports indicated that military options remained open.
In June, reports emerged citing White House officials that the Trump administration had not removed any options from the negotiating table when considering military action against the underground Fordow nuclear facility in Iran. Additionally, Trump also drew attention last year when he suggested the US could resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 1992 to counter Russia and China.
As of the time this report was filed, the White House had not provided an official comment regarding Tucker Carlson’s latest statement.