(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Donald Trump took to rival conservative network Newsmax on Monday night with his first public comments after it was reported that Fox News had parted ways with wildly popular host and conservative firebrand Tucker Carlson.
“I’m shocked. I’m surprised,” the former president told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly during an interview Monday night from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
“He’s a very good person and a very good man,” Trump said of Carlson. “And very talented, as you know, he had very high ratings. I just said, wow, that was something, that’s a big one.”
Trump declined to speculate on what triggered the split, when Kelly noted there had been “a lot of turmoil” at Fox after their $787-million Dominion Voting lawsuit settlement, and asked why the network would “get rid of a guy who is performing, why would somebody do that to their business?”
Trump, instead, said he was “surprised” that Fox settled the Dominion lawsuit, when he “thought that was a case that easily should have been won.”
As for Carlson’s exit from Fox, Trump said, “Look, you’ll have to ask them. I’m not representing them, at all, by any means. But the Tucker situation — again, you don’t know if it’s a firing or he left because he wasn’t being given his free reign, maybe.”
That line of reasoning was widely shared on social media, where it was reported that Carlson departed after being stonewalled on releasing a blistering response to a 60 Minute’s report that ran cover for suspected J6 fed plant Ray Epps. Another theory offered that it had to do with the Dominion settlement.
“My sources are telling me: Tucker was all set to go live tonight,” Justin Hart tweeted Monday. “He probably had plans to talk about the lawsuit and clear his name. Producers were prepping guests and slots of Monday’s show. Corporate nixed the idea and Tucker up and quit!”
LOTS of confusion. But here's what I've heard:
– This happened VERY QUICKLY
– It was something to do with editorial control
– FoxNews (possibly) wanted an out
– Tucker (possible) wanted an outMy take: if you don't hear from Tucker landing somewhere in the next days, he'll be…
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) April 24, 2023
“I have a longtime friend at Fox News,” tweeted Snoop Bailey. “He just texted me that Tucker was planning a segment to destroy the 60 Minutes Epps episode. Exec Producer Jennifer Rauchet told him he couldn’t run the segment so he quit.”
Checks out ⬇️
Murdock didn’t want him talking about J6 or Epps. pic.twitter.com/yfInNLNowa
— Snoop Bailey (@realsnoopbailey) April 24, 2023
Whatever drove the Carlson/Fox split, rival conservative network Newsmax was ready to capture an expected audience share that was already fleeing Fox.
“Tucker was the voice for the forgotten Americans who felt ignored by mainstream media and politicians,” tweeted Revolver News. “His sudden departure is a significant loss, and his fans are understandably upset. Many are fighting back by canceling their Fox Nation subscriptions.”
Fox News owes their viewers a pretty damned good explanation for why they dropped their most popular host. Since I doubt that'll be forthcoming, they deserve every ounce of viewership fallout that's about to come their way.
— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) April 24, 2023
Fox News is firing pro-Trump hosts and Newsmax is hosting President Trump on their network tonight at 9PM ET.
Turn off Fox News and turn on Newsmax! Eric Bolling and Greg Kelly are the best!
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) April 24, 2023
“I cancelled my @foxnation subscription tonight,” tweeted one former viewer. “I only watched Tucker’s show. They will not get another penny. Delete them, too.”
That overall sentiment was reflected in the network’s plummeting stock in the wake of their split with Carlson.
🚨FOX News Corp Loses A BILLION DOLLARS As Conservatives Pledge To Cancel Subscriptions En Masse. pic.twitter.com/G4uTirbPHS
— Emily (@EmilyM0703) April 24, 2023
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said his network was primed to pick up the viewers, while taking a dig at Fox News.
“For a while Fox News has been moving to become establishment media and Tucker Carlson’s removal is a big milestone in that effort,” Ruddy said in a statement. “Millions of viewers who liked the old Fox News have made the switch to Newsmax and Tucker’s departure will only fuel that trend.”
