President Donald Trump brushed off criticism Monday from former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has recently taken aim at the administration’s handling of escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran.
The remarks came during a bilateral meeting with the British prime minister at the Group of Seven summit.
“I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,” Trump said when prompted by reporters about Carlson’s recent comments.
Carlson has been vocal on social media and in recent broadcasts regarding Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Trump: I don't know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen. pic.twitter.com/Ys8Bpe1WWv
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 16, 2025
The operation reportedly resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials. Carlson has sharply criticized Trump’s stance, charging that the president is “complicit in the act of war.”
He further warned that the administration’s choices in the coming days “will define Donald Trump’s presidency.”
The criticism from Carlson extended to others in conservative media. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Carlson condemned “warmongers” advocating for American military engagement in the conflict, specifically naming longtime conservative commentators Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.
The real divide isn’t between people who support Israel and people who support Iran or the Palestinians. The real divide is between those who casually encourage violence, and those who seek to prevent it — between warmongers and peacemakers. Who are the warmongers? They would…
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 13, 2025
As of now, President Trump has avoided laying out any firm plans for potential U.S. military action.
While the White House has maintained that Israel acted independently, it acknowledged that the U.S. assisted in intercepting Iranian retaliatory strikes, a move that some interpret as indirect involvement.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not dismiss the notion of targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This came shortly after media reports alleged that Trump blocked a proposed Israeli operation aimed at Khamenei, due to concerns it could further inflame the situation.
“It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” Netanyahu said in an interview with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl when asked about those reports.
In response to a question on whether such an operation was still under consideration, Netanyahu responded: “doing what we need to do.”
Speaking more guardedly on the issue during a separate appearance on Fox News’s “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Netanyahu refused to confirm or deny the existence of any plan targeting Iran’s top leader.
“There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I’m not going to get into that,” Netanyahu said. “We will do what we need to do, and I think the United States knows what is good for the United States, and I’m just not going to get into it.”
Back in Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) decided to postpone his scheduled address to Israel’s legislative body, the Knesset, as tensions continue to mount across the Middle East. Johnson, who was slated to become just the third Speaker in U.S. history to address the Israeli parliament, made the announcement Monday.
“Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset,” Johnson stated, referring to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
“We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East.”
On the ground in Iran, fallout from the escalating conflict continued as an Israeli airstrike struck the headquarters of Iranian state television in Tehran.
The strike occurred during a live broadcast, sending dust and debris through the studio as anchors fled mid-segment. The live feed was interrupted but returned shortly afterward.
Iranian media official Hassan Abedini reported that a number of employees were injured in the attack. The footage revealed smoke pouring from the facility, with exterior shots confirming a major fire.
The Israeli Defense Forces justified the strike by claiming that the building served as cover for military infrastructure.
Although this assertion was reported by officials such as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, international media, including The Washington Post, stated they could not verify the claim independently.
“The Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority was attacked by the IDF after a widespread evacuation of residents in the area,” Katz said in a social media post. “We will defeat the Iranian dictator everywhere.”
