Tucker Carlson Announces Plans to Create Third Party After Break With GOP

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson (Right bias) on Wednesday said he planned to help start a new political party after leaving the Republican Party. News outlets across the political spectrum noted Carlson's relationship with President Trump and his frustrations with the GOP.

The Details: Carlson told the Columbia Journalism Review in an interview that he was "going to do everything I can to bring about" a new political party, and claimed the US government is "a one-party state posing as a democracy, and it needs to be broken." According to the Review, Carlson hasn't spoken to Trump since the beginning of the Iranian war. Last month, Carlson said there was "no chance" he would support the GOP moving forward and also denied the possibility of running for political office himself.

For Context: Since the start of Trump's second presidential term, Carlson has been a vocal critic of the increased cost of living, Israel's relationship with the US and of US foreign intervention. Before his tenure ended at Fox News (Right) in 2023, Carlson was highly supportive of Trump and shared several claims about the 2020 election being stolen and about the "great replacement" theory. He has apologized to viewers of his own news platform and podcast for "misleading" them with his support for Trump and saying he was "tormented" by it.

How the Media Covered It: Several outlets said the announcement was in direct opposition to Trump and the Republican Party. Newsweek (Center) said the announcement comes "at a sensitive moment" for the GOP, which it said was showing signs of internal divisions. It noted that third parties have historically faced challenges with support, but that "even a small share of Republican voters" following Carlson could "prove consequential in competitive" midterm races. New York Post (Right) and Washington Examiner (Lean Right) primarily focused on Carlson's frustrations with the GOP. The Post mentioned that Trump has referred to Carlson as a "nut job" and a "hand flailing fool" after their break. The New York Times (Lean Left) outlined Carlson and Trump's relationship throughout the years, describing it facing "rocky stretches." Mediaite (Left) noted Carlson's criticism of Israel and the US's relationship, describing Carlson as being "fixated" on Israel.

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