Staff Reports
Senator Ted Cruz is openly laying groundwork for a 2028 presidential push by leaning into a very public feud with Tucker Carlson, according to reporting that shows Cruz is using the confrontation to define himself against the growing isolationist wing of the GOP. This is not random theater; Cruz has sharpened his public attacks in recent weeks in a clear effort to stake out a foreign-policy lane that contrasts with Carlson’s America First populism.
At the center of the fight is Carlson’s decision to give a platform to notorious extremist Nick Fuentes, which Cruz has denounced as dangerous and antisemitic while calling Carlson’s influence a malign force on the right. The senator’s critiques are rooted in stark national-security and moral concerns — he’s argued that normalizing such voices weakens the conservative movement and betrays longstanding Republican support for Israel.
Carlson, unsurprisingly, brushed Cruz off as “hilarious” when asked about the senator’s maneuvering, and former President Trump publicly defended Carlson’s right to interview controversial figures, underscoring how fractured and performative this intra-party spat has become. The spectacle reveals more than personality clashes; it highlights a party dividing between those who still view global threats through the lens of American leadership and those who prefer isolationist posturing.
From a conservative standpoint that values strong alliances and robust deterrence, Cruz’s willingness to name and shame dangerous voices is commendable and necessary. He’s not just grandstanding — he’s courting pro-Israel donors and planning appearances to reassure traditional allies and conservative institutions that someone in the GOP will stand up for American commitments abroad. That strategic pivot makes sense if the party is serious about national security beyond slogans.
Make no mistake: this is also political calculus. Cruz is positioning himself as the reliable hawk in a GOP where the presumptive 2028 field includes Vice President J.D. Vance, a Carlson ally who represents the newer, isolationist bent. A primary between those visions would force Republicans to choose whether they want a party that leads or a party that simply withdraws behind catchy populist lines.
If conservatives care about keeping America strong and our allies secure, they should welcome a debate that exposes the consequences of coddling extremists and of turning doctrine into demagoguery. Ted Cruz isn’t shy, and love him or hate him, he’s making a clear argument about where the GOP should stand on the world stage — and that argument deserves to be fought out in public, not surrendered to shock-jock convenience.
