WASHINGTON — The son of right-wing pundit Tucker Carlson has left Vice President JD Vance’s press team to set up his own political consulting firm amid escalating tensions between his father and President Trump.
Buckley Carlson, a 20-something who had served as Vance’s deputy press secretary since the start of the second Trump administration, is joining a group of several White House alumni departing for the private sector.
While such moves can be typical in presidential administrations, Buckley’s departure comes against the backdrop of a growing rift between Trump, 79, and Tucker, 56, once an avid backer.
Trump wrote in a screed against Tucker earlier this month, “Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson, who couldn’t even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same — Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist!”
Trump jabbed at Tucker again on Truth Social on Friday, linking to a story about CNN data guru Harry Enten suggesting the president was winning the feud in the public eye and writing, “Tucker is a Low IQ person – Always easy to beat, and highly overrated.”
Tucker has publicly railed against the Trump administration for months, all while largely refraining from mentioning the president by name.
Instead, he blamed the president’s allies such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his grievances, including the war in Iran. Tucker privately lobbied Trump against going to war.
Trump for his part had occasionally swiped at Tucker, calling him “kooky,” among other insults, after the latter dinged the Operation Midnight Hammer attacks on Iran.
But more recently, Trump has seemingly waded into the conservative-podcast wars and sided with radio host Mark Levin against his foes, such as Tucker, Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens.
Tucker in turn told the BBC earlier this month he was “horrified” by the president’s bone-chilling declaration that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran didn’t cut a deal.
“I’ve always liked Trump and still feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves,” Tucker told Newsmax, claiming that Trump “can’t make his own decisions” and is “hemmed in by other forces.”
News of Buckley’s exit from the Trump administration was first revealed by Politico, which said the son was set to leave the veep’s office last year but stayed on for a few months for transition purposes.
Buckley previously worked for then-Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) in 2019 as his deputy chief of staff.
