17. March 2026

Battle Continues Among Conservatives as War With Iran Wages On

WASHINGTON-- Megyn Kelly, a prominent conservative podcaster and former Fox News host, and Mark Levin, a leading Fox News commentator, represent two of the movement’s most influential voices—now sharply divided over the war in Iran.

Ms. Kelly has publicly opposed the conflict, recently asserting that it was promoted to the American public by “Israel-first advocates such as Mark Levin.” Mr. Levin responded by calling her “emotionally unhinged, lewd, and petulant,” escalating an already contentious exchange.

As joint U.S.–Israeli military operations in Iran enter their third week, divisions within the MAGA-aligned conservative sphere have intensified. Prominent figures have increasingly turned their criticism inward, clashing not only over the strategic merits of the war but also over the broader contours of the U.S.–Israel relationship.

Tucker Carlson, an other prominent conservative commentator who has come out strongly against the war in Iran, says he fears potential federal charges stemming from his communications with individuals in Iran, suggesting he could be accused of acting as a foreign agent.

In a video posted on X, the conservative commentator claimed that the CIA is preparing a criminal referral to the Justice Department. Carlson alleged the basis for such action would be his having “talked to people in Iran before the war,” and further asserted that U.S. government agencies have accessed his private messages.

Carlson, a former CNN and Fox News host who now operates in independent media, did not present documentation to support his claims.

This dispute underscores a growing fracture within American conservatism. While the movement has historically maintained strong support for Israel, a segment has become increasingly skeptical in recent years, particularly regarding Israel’s influence on U.S. foreign policy. These tensions have deepened since the onset of hostilities on February 28.

On Tuesday, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned from his post, stating that the United States had entered the conflict “due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”