Tucker Carlson’s popularity has collapsed and is in “absolute free fall” among Republican voters as President Trump blasts the former Fox News host as “a low IQ person that has absolutely no idea what’s going on.”
The commentator’s favorability rating among Republican-leaning voters has dropped by a stunning 47 percentage points over the last two years, according to a poll from YouGov and UMass Lowell. The poll was conducted at the end of March, before Trump’s full onslaught, but well into the war in Iran.
In March 2024, Carlson held a +54 favorability rating with conservative voters. Two years later, that figure has cratered to just +7, the poll shows.
The numbers reflect a trend that began with former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress after a bitter split with the president. Trump-backed Republican Clay Fuller won the special election Tuesday night to fill the seat.
CNN’s polling expert described Carlson as “electoral poison,” pointing to data showing that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would beat him by 11 percentage points in a general election. Vice President JD Vance, on the other hand, would win by 3 points over Newsom.
“When you go up against Donald Trump and you want to appeal to the Republican base, to quote the movie ‘Good Burger,’ you’re going in the grinder, and that’s exactly what has happened to Tucker Carlson, who has absolutely collapsed among Republicans,” Enten said.
Tucker Carlson has been in absolute free fall among the GOP. His net favorable has dropped by 47 points.
Meanwhile, Trump crushes Tucker among the GOP. Trump’s net favorable is 54 pts higher than Carlson’s.
When you up against Trump, you in the grinder to quote Good Burger. pic.twitter.com/oz30tsWGhW
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) April 10, 2026
Kalshi prediction markets only give Carlson a five percent chance of securing the 2028 GOP nomination, with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio running well ahead.
Republican voters “choose Donald Trump basically every single time,” Enten added, a point raised by conservative commentator Meghan McCain.
“I don’t know how every single podcaster and influencer hasn’t realized by this time that republicans will choose Trump over them – absolutely every single time,” McCain said.
I don’t know how every single podcaster and influencer hasn’t realized by this time that republicans will choose Trump over them – absolutely every single time. https://t.co/Wi4z78YhQ5
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) April 10, 2026
The fresh data comes after President Trump went scorched earth Thursday night on Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, calling the four podcasters “low IQ,” “losers,” and “nut jobs.”
“They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some ‘free’ and cheap publicity,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
In response, the Tucker Carlson Network started selling “low IQ” hats, “calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third rate podcasters” to buy their merchandise.
Calling all nut jobs, troublemakers, and third rate podcasters! New merch just dropped: https://t.co/PICYxuIV5A@TuckerCarlson @megynkelly @RealCandaceO @RealAlexJones @mtgreenee https://t.co/O8s6DRpC29 pic.twitter.com/XOKveI5h41
— Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) April 10, 2026
All four commentators have become increasingly critical of the president over his decision to launch “Operation Epic Fury” against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Earlier this week, Carlson urged U.S. military members to refuse Trump’s orders and fumed at the president’s Easter Sunday message.
“Who do you think you are? You’re tweeting out the f-word on Easter morning?” Carlson said. “No president should mock Islam.”
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Tucker Carlson slams US President Trump for mocking Islam.
“No President should mock Islam.” pic.twitter.com/ZnOtsLrDB6
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) April 7, 2026
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