Overview

• President Trump is expected to decide within two weeks whether to commit U.S. forces to support Israel against Iran, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
• A viral clip of Tucker Carlson grilling Senator Ted Cruz on Iran’s population and ethnic makeup exposed sharp disagreements over U.S. intervention in the Middle East.
• Cruz briefly suggested “we are carrying out military strikes today” before clarifying that Israel leads the campaign with U.S. logistical and intelligence support, prompting White House denials of direct American offensive action.
• Carlson questioned Cruz’s ties to pro-Israel lobbying and his broader hawkish foreign policy, while Cruz accused Carlson of “running interference” for Iran’s assassination plots against President Trump.
• The debate reflects a broader schism on Republican foreign policy, with both figures also at odds over U.S. aid to Ukraine and strategy toward Russia.