Tucker Carlson has introduced a fresh line of merchandise, a direct response to Donald Trump’s recent social media outburst, signaling a notable shift in the dynamics between the former president and his erstwhile media supporters.
On Friday, the Tucker Carlson Network began promoting baseball caps emblazoned with the phrase “LOW IQ,” an explicit nod to an insult Trump hurled in a Truth Social post just a day prior.
The promotional material for the caps read: “Calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third-rate podcasters! New merch just dropped.”
This merchandise launch follows a lengthy 500-word tirade from Trump on Thursday, where he took aim at Carlson and other prominent right-wing figures such as Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones. In his post, Trump labeled them as “losers,” “stupid people,” and “nut jobs,” particularly criticizing their dissent regarding his administration’s military actions against Iran.
“I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years,” Trump asserted, branding the group as possessing “Low IQs” and suggesting that Carlson ought to “see a good psychiatrist.”
This animosity marks a stark contrast to the 2024 campaign trail, where Carlson was a staunch advocate for Trump. At the Republican National Convention, he famously proclaimed that Trump had evolved beyond a mere nominee to become “the leader of a nation.”
However, their relationship has been fraught with tension behind closed doors. During the Dominion Voting Systems defamation trial, internal communications revealed that Carlson, then at Fox News, had referred to Trump as a “destroyer” and “evil,” even stating at one point, “I hate him passionately.”
The current discord seems to stem from Trump’s foreign policy decisions, particularly his threats of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Recently, Carlson has sharpened his critique, suggesting in his Friday morning newsletter that outside interests may be influencing the president while previously raising questions about Trump’s moral integrity.
Other individuals targeted in Trump’s post have also responded. Candace Owens, who has voiced regret over her past support for the president, remarked on X that it “may be time to put Grandpa up in a home.”
Meanwhile, Alex Jones, whose InfoWars platform played a pivotal role in Trump’s political ascent, released a video asserting that the president has been “totally changed” by “demonic influences.”
This public feud illustrates a growing divide within the MAGA movement, as Trump lashes out at media figures who were instrumental in his political resurgence.
Despite the escalating tensions, Trump maintains that he has not alienated his base, citing claims of a 100 percent approval rating among self-identified MAGA supporters on CNN.
