Trump has a “supernatural component” that influences those around him and makes them more obedient, according to broadcaster Tucker Carlson, who described the experience of being close to the US president in unusual terms during a recent interview with The New York Times.Carlson made the comments in a conversation with journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro, where he discussed Trump’s leadership style, political influence and decision-making during key policy moments, including leading U.S. military action against Iran in recent months.He claimed that people in Trump’s circle often find themselves connecting with the president’s decisions because of a powerful, almost hypnotic quality.Carlson said: “And I think it’s probably literally a spell. And the effect of that is to weaken the people around him and make them more compliant and more confused. And I’ve experienced it myself. You spend a day with Trump and you’re in this kind of dream world. It’s like smoking hashish or something. It’s interesting, very interesting.”Carlson said he believes there may be a mysterious explanation for the effect, while acknowledging uncertainty about its cause.He said, “There’s a supernatural component to it. I’m not a theologian, but it’s real, and anyone who’s been around them can tell you it’s true.”Carlson also criticized aspects of Trump’s foreign policy approach, arguing that there was limited internal resistance within Trump’s MAGA circle before major decisions.He suggested that POTUS’ influence leads advisers and aides to support his positions more readily than they otherwise would, describing this effect as “mesmerizing.”Carlson was a well-known conservative figure in GOP circles, but he and Trump’s relationship deteriorated in 2025–26 over disagreements on foreign policy. Carlson criticized the president and called him a “crook.” Trump responded with insults on Truth Social, calling Carlson and colleagues “low IQ” and distancing himself from them.