Trucker Carlson, the next US President?
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Some time ago, the well-known Fox News political commentator was fired. There are several reasons, including the fact that Fox News had to settle a dispute over Carlson’s alleged election fraud in 2020. The settlement cost Fox News $787 million. Trucker Carlson has not yet said anything about what he will do in the future. Russian TV was quick to offer the Putin-friendly commentator a job. He may challenge Donald Trump to become the Republican presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential elections.
Trucker Carlson and the Ukraine war
Some of the very controversial statements he has made are about the war in Ukraine. He is embraced by the Russian media for this. Among what he says is that the US and NATO are the cause of the war. He then refers to NATO wanting to take Ukraine into the alliance. This is of course not correct. Ukraine had a long way to membership. Admitting Ukraine as a NATO member was never relevant. Ukraine wanted to be admitted to NATO, but it was too late. Trucker Carlson conveyed essentially the same thing that is conveyed in the Russian media.
Carlson also places much of the blame for the war on Ukraine. Among what he says is that the president of Ukraine is not a democrat. In fact, he is closer to Lenin. Carlson’s pro Russian behavior has been striking for many years, even long before the war. Laudatory mentions of Putin are among these.
Violence and racism
Just before the Fox News settlement was reached, Trucker Carlson sent out a text message. Here he describes a video he saw a short time ago. Three white men who were Trump supporters, beaten up and a colored boy. In the description, Carlson uses expressions like they beat the crap out of the boy. In the text message, Carlson says that it is obviously cowardly to go three pieces (at least) against one. He also says that he eventually cheered on the mob and hoped they would beat him even harder, preferably kill him.
For Fox News, Trucker Carlson became a burden. Not only did his mention of fraud in the presidential election lead to a large expense. It also led to a prestigious defeat. Even for the very republican friendly TV channel, his spread of Russian propaganda became difficult. On top of this came racist comments.
Trump ws Carlson
It is unclear whether Trucker Carlson is actually running as a candidate for the Republican Party. Some believe he actually has a chance of winning such a process over Donald Trump.
It seems absurd to me that a party with such a long democratic tradition is becoming a party of racism, of totalitarian leadership and a policy in favour of women that I thought was a thing of the past. What the US does not need now is even more division. The only beneficiaries are Russia and China.
Sources:
Tucker Carlson breaks silence after Fox News exit – BBC News
Fox News host Tucker Carlson blames America for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – The Washington Post
Tucker Carlson: What the Fox News anchor said about Russia (usatoday.com)