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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Trump Tells Rival Network He Was ‘Shocked’ by Fox/Carlson Split

'Tucker was the voice for the forgotten Americans who felt ignored by mainstream media and politicians. Many are fighting back by canceling their Fox Nation subscriptions... '

(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!”

“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.”

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.”

“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.

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.”

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