Tucker Calls Trump a 'Liar' Over Alleged Iranian Assassination Plots
Carlson, who was fired from Fox News in 2023 and launched his independent network, has increasingly positioned himself as a critic of U.S. foreign policy entanglements, including those involving Iran.
Tucker Carlson has ignited a firestorm of debate and backlash after accusing President Donald Trump of fabricating claims that the Iranian regime plotted to assassinate him. In a clip from his Tucker Carlson Network show, Carlson dismissed the allegations as unfounded, directly labeling Trump's assertions as lies.
In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Iranian asset Farhad Shakeri and two associates in a murder-for-hire scheme that included surveilling and planning to kill Trump, among other targets.
Shakeri, was allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to orchestrate the operation. Earlier that year, in July 2024, Pakistani national Asif Merchant was arrested for a separate plot backed by Iran, where he attempted to hire hitmen to target U.S. officials, including Trump.
Iranian officials have consistently denied involvement. In a January 2025 interview, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told NBC News that Iran "never" plotted to kill Trump and attributed the accusations to "schemes" by Israel and others to promote "Iranophobia."
President Trump has been vocal about the threats, stating in February 2025 that he had instructed his advisers to "obliterate" Iran if any assassination attempt succeeded.
The White House has not yet responded to Carlson's latest comments.
Carlson, who was fired from Fox News in 2023 and launched his independent network, has increasingly positioned himself as a critic of U.S. foreign policy entanglements, including those involving Iran.