Tucker Carlson Blasts Pete Hegseth as 'Deranged, Bloodthirsty Monkey' as MAGA Split Deepens
Tucker Carlson has aimed his rage at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Aug. 6 2026, Published 12:45 p.m. ET
Tucker Carlson has continued his bitter divorce from the MAGA wing of the Republican Party by blasting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his handling of the war in Iran, RadarOnline.com can report.
The former Fox News host has joined up with a pair of prominent Republicans who are on the outs with President Trump to discuss launching their own political party.
Several Prominent Republicans Prepare to Take on Trump's MAGA faithful
Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie and others have been gauging interest in a third political party.
Carlson has joined forces with former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, outgoing Congressman Thomas Massie and others to reportedly discuss forming a third political party with a focus on avoiding U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, such as the ongoing Iran fight.
"We said no more foreign wars, and we meant it and supported Donald Trump because he made that promise. But he’s betrayed us all," Greene wrote on social media, next to a picture of the group meeting. "The movement has begun."
That movement could include pushing Carlson to run for president in 2028. The 57-year-old has been a loud critic of the MAGA movement, especially Hegseth.
Tucker Carlson Goes to War With Pete Hegseth
Carlson blasted Hegseth and his handling of the war in Iran.
On Wednesday, August 5, Carlson used his YouTube show to unveil a 10-point vision for America – one without Trump and his loyalists. He also took aim at Trump directly over the Iran war and blasted Hegseth's role in advancing it.
"When you see your secretary of war jumping around like a deranged, bloodthirsty monkey calling for the murder of innocents and no one says anything about it, then you know we've taken a path that nobody can be proud of," Carlson railed.
"And by the way, the idea that there is a department of war is itself an assault on decency because what is the point of war? It's to defend yourself," he continued. "Only an indecent country wages wars if it doesn't have to. And the only reason ever to wage war to kill people is to defend yourself.
"That's why it was always called the Defense Department. At least for the past 80 years, the Defense Department."
A New Party Would Put 'America First for All Americans'
Hegseth fired back at Carlson, saying the battle overseas will carry on.
Hegseth clapped back and defended Trump's foreign policy.
"We're busy executing on behalf of great patriotic Americans with a clear mission that's 47 years overdue, and we're gonna execute on that regardless of what people say about it," Hegseth said during a recent speaking engagement.
As for the weekend meeting of Trump's former friends, Greene declared that the attendees were united by what they see as Trump's failure to keep one of his central campaign promises – no new wars. She also teased a third party to unite the fractured nation.
"Our commitment is America First for all Americans, right, left, and center," Green said in a photo of the group she posted.
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Critics of Trump and Pete Hegseth Unite
Carlson and Hegseth have squared off in public spats in the past.
The gathering united several conservatives who were once closely aligned with Trump but have since become outspoken critics.
Greene's relationship with the president deteriorated after she aggressively pushed for the release of government files related to convicted s-x offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump later publicly labeled the former congresswoman a "traitor" as their feud intensified.
Massie fell out of favor after opposing key parts of Trump's legislative agenda and repeatedly calling for greater transparency surrounding the Epstein files.
The Kentucky Republican ultimately lost his primary election after Trump backed challenger Ed Gallrein in a race widely viewed as a test of the president's influence within the GOP.
