In a heated interview set to air Wednesday, Tucker Carlson confronted Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) over his support for increased U.S. involvement in Israel’s escalating conflict with Iran. The exchange, featured on Carlson’s show on X, focused on Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Carlson warned against further entanglement, criticizing Cruz for advocating aggressive action without a clear understanding of Iran’s demographics or geopolitical complexity. When Carlson asked if Cruz knew Iran’s population—about 92 million—the senator dismissed the relevance of such facts, prompting Carlson to accuse him of promoting regime change without adequate knowledge. The clash quickly intensified as Carlson pressed for details about Iran’s ethnic composition, which Cruz brushed off as a “gotcha” tactic, insisting the real threat was Iran’s targeting of former President Trump and broader destabilizing activities.

This confrontation highlights a growing divide within the Republican Party between traditional hawks like Cruz and non-interventionists like Carlson. Carlson’s criticism aligns with a populist, Trump-aligned faction that increasingly questions the value and consequences of U.S. military actions abroad. Cruz’s position, favoring assertive military pressure, contrasts with a shifting GOP base that is wary of foreign entanglements. Carlson also pointed to conflicting reports from the National Security Council that downplayed active U.S. involvement, further challenging Cruz’s justification. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes against Iran continued, with global observers closely monitoring the potential for U.S. escalation. The exchange underscores the tension between national security policy and a changing conservative foreign policy ethos.