Tucker Carlson has claimed that Donald Trump responded to his concerns about the Iran war during a private Oval Office meeting by telling him, 'In the end, we all die anyway. So it doesn't matter.'
Carlson made the claim during an interview with National Public Radio's (NPR) Steve Inskeep, describing a conversation he said took place shortly before the war began. According to Carlson, he warned Trump that the war was not about Iran's nuclear programme and was being pushed by Israel.
The alleged exchange has not been independently verified. NPR said it asked the White House about Carlson's claim, but the White House did not specifically answer the allegation and instead referred NPR to a social media post in which Trump criticised Carlson and others.
Carlson Recalls Oval Office Conversation
Carlson said he had flown back from Tel Aviv after meeting the US ambassador before visiting Trump at the White House.
He said he was alone with Trump in the Oval Office and warned him that the war was not about Iran's nuclear programme.
'I said this to Trump to his face in the Oval Office days before the war began,' Carlson said during the NPR interview.
Carlson then recalled Trump's response. 'He looked at me and said, "yes, you're right. But in the end, we all die anyway. So it doesn't matter." That's exactly what he said,' Carlson said.
Carlson said he was shocked by the response and questioned what the consequences would mean for their children, grandchildren and the country.
White House Does Not Directly Address Claim
NPR asked the White House about Carlson's account of the private conversation.
The White House did not specifically address whether Trump made the reported comment. Instead, it referred NPR to a social media post in which Trump called Carlson and others 'stupid people.'
That means the central claim about the Oval Office exchange remains Carlson's account of a private conversation. Carlson presented his recollection as a verbatim account. The NPR report does not provide a recording or independent confirmation of the exchange.
Carlson Has Broken With Trump Over Iran
Carlson, previously an ally of Trump, has publicly broken with him over the president's approach to the war with Iran. During his NPR interview, Carlson said he did not believe Trump had been acting entirely on his own when the decision to go to war was made.
'I don't think that he had the latitude to make this decision on his own,' Carlson said.
Those comments represent Carlson's interpretation of Trump's decision-making and the circumstances surrounding the conflict. His comments have come as he has publicly distanced himself from Trump over the Iran conflict.
Trump Remark Remains Carlson's Account
The reported 'we all die anyway' comment is part of Carlson's account of his disagreement with Trump over the Iran war but it remains an allegation about a private conversation rather than an independently established quotation from the president.
The White House's response to NPR did not confirm or deny the reported conversation.
The claim that Trump made the remark is based on Carlson's account of the private conversation, with no independent confirmation provided in NPR's report.
The precise circumstances of the private exchange, and whether anyone else can independently corroborate Carlson's recollection, remain unclear.
