Overview
- Carlson, in a New York Times interview published Saturday, said Trump was "more a hostage than a sovereign decision-maker" in the move to wage war on Iran.
- He named Rupert Murdoch and Miriam Adelson as influential donors and pointed to media figures Mark Levin and Sean Hannity as urging action, with Levin and Hannity denying the account and Murdoch and Adelson not commenting.
- He said Trump never seemed eager for the fight and felt boxed in before the first strikes, adding that he did not see senior White House aides pushing for war.
- Trump has pushed back on reports that Israel or its supporters talked him into the conflict, writing on Truth Social that Israel "never" did so as the Iran campaign continues to shape politics and policy.
- Related reporting cited by outlets says outside allies applied pressure, yet Carlson’s assertions remain based largely on his account, which keeps verification and the role of conservative media and donors at the center of the GOP debate.