The ‘podcast wars’ continue: President Trump goes nuclear
It’s no surprise that, amid war, there is plenty of debate and commentary about the situation in the media. President Donald Trump made his feelings about several top media personalities known in a blistering Truth Social post.
Analysis by Summer Lane | April 10, 2026
President Donald Trump lashed out at independent media personalities on Thursday, criticizing them for their opposition to the war in Iran.
“I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs,” the president wrote in a lengthy Truth Social post.
He added pointedly, “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too! Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did! They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some ‘free’ and cheap publicity.”
The president’s attacks on Carlson, Kelly, Owens, and Jones may come as a surprise to Americans, especially considering how heavily most of them supported the president’s administration and campaigns over the years.
The crux of the issue hinges on these individuals’ criticism or questions surrounding the Iran War, which, in all fairness, has become a hot point of debate for the country, due to the president’s 2024 campaign platform that so heavily focused on maintaining peace and staying out of the Middle East.
President Trump’s criticisms were sharp and personal. He attacked Carlson as a “broken man” who “couldn’t even finish College” and criticized Owens as being physically unattractive.
“They’re not ‘MAGA,’ they’re losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA,” he fired off. “As President, I could get them on my side anytime I want to, but when they call, I don’t return their calls because I’m too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go ‘nasty,’ just like Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country.”
The president’s statement has stirred up considerable discussion on the power or influence of independent media – a mechanism that was utilized brilliantly by the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. Whether it was appearances on Tucker Carlson’s podcast (his interview racked up hundreds of millions of views on X) or Theo Von’s show (fun and relatable), independent media bypassed the media censorship complex and helped rocket President Trump’s reelection bid to victory.
Arguably, independent media and podcasting have far superseded the influence of network television, and for good reasons.
Now, President Trump is attacking those same people he once allied with, for better or for worse, rejecting their criticisms with full force.
The attacks on Carlson are especially surprising, as the journalist campaigned heavily for President Trump in 2024.
What the podcasters are saying
Carlson’s network, for their part, responded to the president’s attacks by offering their own explanation for the heated insults. They acknowledged simply that President Trump is under a lot of pressure, and even suggested that he may be under some kind of threat of blackmail or extortion, alleging that this could potentially be linked to the Israeli lobby – a highly controversial topic, but one that Carlson has explored on his show, so it’s no surprise it was included in this response.
“We do not know for sure whether that is happening, but the mere possibility is haunting enough to keep the president up at night,” the TCN’s morning note newsletter proclaimed. “He is under a level of pressure that most people cannot fathom, with rabid Israel Firsters viciously harassing him any time he dares to stray even slightly from their favorite country’s agenda.”
Candace Owens simply responded to the president’s attacks with a single sentence: “It may be time to put Grandpa up in a home.”
Alex Jones, host of “Info Wars,” said in a video statement, “At the end of the day, I just feel sorry for [Trump], and pray that God touches his heart and soul.”
Megyn Kelly has yet to respond at the time of this article’s publication.
Whatever one may think of President Trump’s criticisms or these media personalities, one thing is certain: the fracture in the America First coalition is not good for anyone. Americans would much rather see the country united under a flag of victory and positivity than whatever this is.
Piers Morgan, a well-known media commentator, noted somewhat gently on X of the president’s attacks on his former friends, “Trump is attacking them now because they all oppose the Iran war, and have all been increasingly critical of the Israeli govt. As have Joe Rogan, Theo Von, me and many others who have good relations with Trump. He should stop lashing out, and listen to his friends.”
There’s space for debate on the topic of Israel, the root issue of the Iran War, and many other topics, but one thing remains clear: none of these issues will be cleared up or resolved if people can’t simply agree to disagree on a few things now and again.
The behemoth influence of podcasts
According to Podcast Statistics, more than 581 million people globally tune into podcast shows every year, with that number on track to balloon to nearly 620 million by the end of 2026. 158 million of those audience members are based in the United States.
And for 18-34 year olds, podcasts are on equal footing with television audiences (52 percent).
Podcasts and so-called “influencers” are a massive part of the media market, and they are inarguably incredibly influential in shaping public opinion and, often, providing an alternative viewpoint to mainstream messaging.
Podcasts are also uniquely positioned in that their success lies completely in the interests of their audiences – often, the interests of that audience are directly reflected in the topics introduced by the hosts. Like it or hate it, Carlson, Owens, Jones, and Kelly have huge audiences in the United States because people are interested in diverse viewpoints, whether they are good or bad, subject to everyone’s personal opinions.
President Trump’s dominance in the 2024 election and his first few months in office were rooted in populist appeal. He went on many, many podcasts (like Joe Rogan’s), spoke directly to voters, and listened to what they had to say. Often, he would adjust his policies based on his interaction with these audiences! This methodology was the winning ticket – he was a man who listened to the people, and it was refreshing, relatable, and awesome to see.
The president faces an immense and overwhelming job with the war in Iran. Instead of fighting the podcast wars, perhaps the White House would be better positioned if it were to work with these same independent voices instead of attacking them.
It’s fair to punch back when you’ve been criticized, but the country needs more unity right now, not less, and President Trump, as the leader of this great nation, must be the one to bring everyone together.
