JD Vance’s Deputy Press Secretary Resigns as Trump–Tucker Carlson Feud Over Iran Intensifies

Vice President JD Vance’s Deputy Press Secretary, Buckley Carlson, has reportedly resigned, a move some see as a response to his father, Tucker Carlson’s, ongoing feud with President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict.

The 28-year-old was appointed to the position in January 2025, shortly after the inauguration. He served on the communications team under press secretary Taylor Van Kirk.

According to Politico, Carlson resigned to start his own political consulting firm. A Vance official reflecting on the decision told the publication’s Playbook newsletter, “Buckley first informed the VP’s office of his intention to depart in December, but stayed on for several months to ensure a smooth transition.”

While officials claim that his departure was planned as early as December 2025, the Irish Star report notes that the timing around the divisions within the MAGA movement made his position hard to sustain.

Buckley’s departure is now seen as a big blow to Vance’s connection with the influential “Tucker Wing” of the party. It has also been suggested that, considering Tucker’s role in boosting Vance’s political career, his son's departure from the position indicates the rift between Tucker and the president over the Iran conflict.

The report also indicates that Buckley’s departure may signal growing instability, suggesting that Vance is struggling to keep the team united amid internal disputes. Throughout his career, Buckley faced constant criticism and was labeled a “nepo baby.”

He began his career as an aide to Banks and was later promoted to Banks’ deputy chief of staff. It was followed by his appointment as the Deputy Press Secretary to Vance in January 2025.

Although Vance has been tight-lipped about Buckley’s exit at the moment, he has been quite supportive of him previously. Hitting back at Sloan Rachmuth, an investigative journalist, Vance claimed that she has “decided to obsessively attack a staffer in his 20s because she doesn't like the views of his father.” Extending his support to Buckley, he had called him “a good guy who does a great job for me.”

Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson has been openly criticizing the POTUS and his administration, particularly in relation to the war in Iran. According to the New York Times, the Fox News host met Trump in the Oval Office three times to argue against the attack. He also slammed him for using abusive language on Easter morning.

In the April 6 episode of his podcast on YouTube, the elder Carlson said, “How dare you speak that way on Easter morning to the country? Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f- word on Easter morning.” In an April 16 episode, he also criticized the President over his AI-generated image of a Jesus-like figure.

On the other hand, Trump recently took to Truth Social to push back against several political commentators, including Tucker Carlson. In the post, he went on to call him “low IQ” and other political pundits like Megyn Kelly “NUT JOBS.” Last week, he continued to brand Carlson a “LOSER.”