In a post on X on Sunday, Tucker Carlson said that the CIA is moving toward a criminal referral to the Justice Department that he claims is built around allegations he broke the Foreign Agent Act by communicating with people in Iran. The allegation comes as Carlson has publicly blasted what he described as “absolutely disgusting” U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, a stance that has put him at odds with President Donald Trump.
In the post, Carlson said he learned the CIA had accessed his text messages and was using them to build what he called a “crime report” for federal prosecutors. He said the supposed violation centers on “talking to people in Iran before the war,” adding, “They read my texts.”
In the video message posted on X, Carlson said he is “apparently” being pursued under the Foreign Agent Act, but argued the theory doesn’t match his conduct. He said he is “not an agent of a foreign power,” and claimed he has “never taken money” from any foreign government.
He also framed the issue as a basic citizenship question, saying he is an american and should be free to speak with whomever he chooses. Carlson added, “Legally, I think, the case is ludicrous, and I doubt it’ll even become a case.”
The dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of Carlson’s high-profile break with Trump over Iran, after ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl relayed that Carlson labeled the strikes “absolutely disgusting and evil.” Karl said he reached out directly to Carlson for comment and later posted a video describing the exchange on X.
Carlson’s criticism also landed as traders watched for spillover into energy and broader risk assets, with oil supply worries rising alongside escalating rhetoric.
In his message, Carlson said he raised the allegation because he believes wartime politics reduces tolerance for dissent, arguing that countries become “more authoritarian” during conflicts. He also said war brings “much less tolerance for any kind of dissent,” including in the united states.
He further suggested his past criticism of Israel may have made him a target within the CIA. Carlson said, “[There are] some people who are mad at me for my views about Israel and they have some latitude,” and he described referrals as a pathway authorities can use to pursue surveillance warrants.
In the same post, Carlson argued intelligence officials sometimes leak damaging narratives to “humiliate and terrify” people they view as opponents. He presented that as another reason he believes a referral could surface even if no case follows.
Karl also reported Carlson had visited the white house the prior week, describing the trip as an effort to maintain influence with Trump even as the two diverged on Iran.
This scrutiny comes amid increasing concerns regarding the potential for conflicts of interest between Donald Trump’s foreign policy decisions and his family’s business dealings, particularly following the Trump Organization’s agreements for a luxury golf resort in Qatar and developments in Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, Carlson expressed apprehension about these ties, labeling them as “corruption” during a discussion about the implications of Trump’s Middle East ventures on U.S. policy.
The backdrop of these discussions is crucial, as Trump’s administration recently finalized over $200 billion in agreements with the UAE, raising further questions about the intersection of his political and personal financial interests. This context may heighten the political stakes for Carlson as he navigates his criticisms of U.S.-Israel relations and Trump’s military strategies, especially amid escalating tensions in the region, which have seen market volatility increase.
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