Buckley Carlson Steps Down as JD Vance's Press Secretary
Staff churn happens in every administration, especially when big personalities (and their families) get crossways. Still, people are wondering whether Tucker's latest anti-Trump stance got his son fired.
Buckley Carlson, the son of ex-conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has stepped down from his position as deputy press secretary to Vice President JD Vance to launch his own political consulting firm, according to multiple reports.
The departure was first reported by Politico on Saturday. A senior official in Vance’s office confirmed that Buckley Carlson informed the vice president’s team of his plans to leave as far back as December 2025, but remained in the role for several months to ensure a smooth transition.
Buckley, 28, joined Vance’s office shortly after the January 2025 inauguration, serving initially as a press assistant before moving into the deputy press secretary position. Prior to that, he worked as communications director for Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) and held other Capitol Hill roles.
This lands right in the middle of the very public Tucker Carlson vs. Trump/ administration feud, especially over the Iran war and Trump's rhetoric around it. Tucker has been hammering the policy hard (calling out threats, questioning the direction, even selling "LOW IQ" merch in response to Trump jabs). Some headlines are spinning it as "Vance loses top aide amid Trump feud" because Buckley is literally Tucker's kid --- and Tucker was a big early booster for Vance's rise.
However, sources close to Vance pushed back on any suggestion of a forced exit or drama, stressing that the move was long-planned and unrelated to the current media spat. Buckley Carlson is said to be pursuing opportunities in the private sector through his new consulting firm.
The optics are fun for the political gossip mill: nepo hire from the Carlson orbit quietly bouncing while dad torches bridges with the boss's boss. Some on the right (like Laura Loomer types) are already calling it a "big positive" for Vance heading into '28. Others see it as more evidence of the MAGA/media ecosystem fracturing over foreign policy.