Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host turned conservative provocateur, reportedly delivered a sharp public rebuke of President Donald J. Trump, criticizing what he called a “cover-up” in the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case — and framing it as the kind of failure he “voted against.”
During a tense Cabinet meeting last week, according to multiple sources, Mr. Carlson erupted in frustration, declaring, “I voted against that kind of crap!”
The outburst appeared to stem from deep-seated anger over the Justice Department and FBI’s recent memo, which concluded there was no substantive evidence of a “client list” tying prominent figures to Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring.
His comments came amid growing tensions among pro-Trump circles. Mr. Carlson, once a staunch administration ally, has expressed lingering concern that the government’s refusal to release further Epstein files reflects a broader institutional betrayal.
“This is not a distraction,” he is said to have told senior officials. “It’s an outrage.” The outburst underscores his enduring influence among the MAGA base and the movement’s continuing divisions.
The uproar follows a wave of right-wing anger prompted by revelations that Attorney General Pam Bondi had once claimed to possess a client list—a promise later reversed.
Conservative voices like Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon have joined in criticizing the Administration, demanding further transparency and accountability.
Mr. Carlson told aides the apparent backtracking made him feel “lied to,” a sentiment others within the conservative media ecosystem echo.
And while they acknowledge Trump has attempted to quash speculation — telling loyalists on his platform that Bondi is “doing a fantastic job” — Carlson’s resistance signals a fracture beneath the party’s surface.
For his part, Trump has publicly defended his attorney general and suggested the Epstein narrative was being exaggerated by left-wing figures intent on undermining his administration.
Yet inside the movement, the backlash is gathering pace. Conservative stalwarts warn that failure to address the Epstein controversy risks alienating a substantial portion of their base, many of whom now view the episode as emblematic of elite collusion and double standards on accountability.
“People like me voted for Trump because we believed he’d drain the swamp,” Carlson has said in interviews. “But this is swamp behavior.”
As the controversy simmers, it highlights a key dilemma for the MAGA movement: whether to double down on conspiracy-driven demands or pivot toward external political battles.
For now, Mr. Carlson’s fierce objections serve as a stark reminder that, in conservative ranks, the Epstein files are far from closed.
[READ MORE: Pam Bondi Faces Criticism Over Epstein File Defense Amid Renewed Scrutiny]
