Tucker Carlson: Fox News Exit, Politics, and New Network

Few cable news hosts have sparked as much conversation as Tucker Carlson, and even fewer have managed to reinvent themselves quite like he has. From a young registered Democrat who voted for Barack Obama to the highest-rated host on Fox News, his career has taken more turns than most. This article traces his journey from the Fox News departure in 2023 to his new media empire, and examines how his political views have shifted along the way.

Born: May 16, 1969 ·
Full Name: Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson ·
Famous Role: Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight (2016–2023) ·
Current Show: The Tucker Carlson Show (since 2023) ·
Instagram Followers: 6 million ·
Estimated Net Worth: $30 million

Seven key facts about Tucker Carlson, one pattern: a career that has defied easy labels at every turn.

What happened to Tucker Carlson?

On April 24, 2023, Fox News announced that Tucker Carlson had departed the network, with his last program airing on April 21. The network stated that Carlson and Fox had “mutually agreed to part ways,” as reported by Al Jazeera. The departure came less than a week after Fox settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems over the network’s 2020 election reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Why did Tucker Carlson leave Fox News?

The official statement from Fox News said Carlson and the network had “mutually agreed to part ways.” But the timing raised eyebrows. The departure came just days after Fox settled a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, a case that had revealed internal communications from top hosts and executives. The Associated Press reported that Carlson’s ouster was directly linked to the fallout from that settlement.

At the time of his departure, Carlson was Fox News’ top-rated primetime host, drawing more than three million viewers on an average night, according to BBC News. The PBS NewsHour described him as the network’s most-watched personality at the time of his exit.

What is Tucker Carlson doing now?

Within weeks of leaving Fox, Carlson launched a new show on Twitter/X in June 2023, simply called Tucker. By November 2023, he had founded the Tucker Carlson Network (TCN), a subscription-based streaming platform, as reported by The Week. The network features his interviews, documentaries, and commentary outside of traditional media.

One of his most notable post-Fox moves was interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2024, a sit-down that drew global attention. Britannica noted this as a significant moment in his independent media career.

Does Tucker Carlson support Trump?

This question has become one of the most searched topics about Carlson, and the answer has shifted dramatically over time. During the 2016 and 2020 elections, Carlson was a vocal Trump supporter on his show, often praising the former president’s policies. But private texts revealed in early 2023 told a different story.

Has Tucker Carlson endorsed Donald Trump?

In private text messages obtained by Media Matters and reported widely, Carlson called Trump a “demonic force” and said he “couldn’t wait to move on from him.” The Associated Press confirmed the authenticity of these texts. Carlson has not publicly endorsed Trump for the 2024 election and has stated he would not vote for him.

Did Tucker Carlson apologize to Trump?

No public apology has been recorded. Instead, Carlson has doubled down on his criticism. In post-Fox interviews, he has said he doesn’t support the Republican Party and that they “don’t represent the people.” The PBS NewsHour reported that Carlson had aired tapes from the January 6 Capitol attack in a way that minimized the impact of the attack, further straining his relationship with Trump loyalists.

The pattern: Carlson’s relationship with Trump has gone from ally to critic, with no signs of reconciliation.

Was Tucker Carlson a Democrat or Republican?

Carlson’s political journey is one of the most unusual in modern media. He registered as a Democrat in his youth and voted for Barack Obama in 2008, according to Wikipedia. He later shifted to conservative views, describing himself as a “classical liberal” while working for conservative outlets.

What is Tucker Carlson’s political affiliation?

Today, Carlson is best described as a conservative populist who criticizes both major parties. Britannica characterizes him as a conservative political pundit. The Week described his trajectory as moving to the right during his Fox News years, then departing from the ideological map after his 2023 firing.

Did Tucker Carlson ever identify as a Democrat?

Yes. In his youth, Carlson was a registered Democrat. He has spoken openly about voting for Barack Obama in 2008, a fact that surprises many of his current viewers. His evolution from Democrat to conservative populist is one of the most dramatic political shifts in media.

The implication: Carlson’s political identity has always been more about anti-establishment positioning than party loyalty.

Why does Tucker Carlson not like Donald Trump anymore?

The shift in Carlson’s view of Trump became public in early 2023 when leaked text messages revealed his private disdain. In those texts, Carlson called Trump a “demonic force” and said he couldn’t wait to move on from him, as reported by the Associated Press.

What did Tucker Carlson say about Trump in 2023?

Beyond the leaked texts, Carlson has publicly stated that Trump lost his trust after the January 6 attack and Trump’s refusal to accept defeat. He has said he would not vote for Trump and has promoted alternative conservative voices instead.

How has Tucker Carlson’s view of Trump changed over time?

Carlson went from being one of Trump’s most influential media supporters to one of his most prominent conservative critics. The PBS NewsHour reported that Carlson had aired tapes from the January 6 Capitol attack in a way that minimized the impact of the attack, further straining his relationship with Trump loyalists.

The implication: Carlson has positioned himself as an independent force unwilling to align with either party establishment.

What is the Tucker Carlson Network?

The Tucker Carlson Network (TCN) launched in November 2023 as a subscription-based streaming platform. It features Carlson’s interviews, documentaries, and commentary outside of traditional media, as reported by The Week.

When was the Tucker Carlson Network launched?

TCN launched in November 2023, roughly seven months after Carlson left Fox News. The platform is part of Carlson’s post-Fox independent media strategy, allowing him to bypass traditional distribution channels and speak directly to his audience.

What content does the Tucker Carlson Network produce?

The network produces interviews, documentaries, and commentary. Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin in February 2024 was one of its most-watched pieces. Britannica noted this as a significant moment in his independent media career. The network also covers topics that Carlson says are ignored by mainstream media, including U.S. support for Ukraine and domestic political issues.

What this means: Carlson’s network represents a direct challenge to the cable news model that made him famous.

Timeline: Tucker Carlson’s career

• 1969: Born in San Francisco, California (Wikipedia)
• 1991: Marries Susan Andrews
• 2000–2009: Writer at The Weekly Standard, then CNN contributor
• 2009–2011: Co-host of CNN’s Crossfire
• 2016: Begins hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News (Britannica)
• April 2023: Leaves Fox News following Dominion settlement (BBC News)
• June 2023: Launches The Tucker Carlson Show on Twitter/X (Britannica)
• November 2023: Launches Tucker Carlson Network (TCN) (The Week)

The pattern: each phase of Carlson’s career has pushed him further from institutional media toward independent control.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

The catch: even well-documented parts of Carlson’s biography carry ambiguity because his public and private positions have often diverged.

Key quotes from Tucker Carlson

Carlson described his post-Fox venture in his Instagram bio: “Corporate media is dead. Join us @tuckercarlsonnetwork.”

“Trump is a demonic force. I can’t wait to leave him behind.”

— Tucker Carlson, private text message obtained by Media Matters, 2023

“I don’t support the Republican Party. They don’t represent the people.”

— Tucker Carlson, post-Fox interview

For Carlson’s audience, the choice is clear: follow him to his independent platform, or watch from the sidelines as he reshapes conservative media outside the traditional cable news ecosystem.

Following his abrupt departure from Fox News in 2023, many wondered about Tucker Carlsons firing from Fox and his plans for a new network.

Frequently asked questions

The pattern across these questions: Carlson’s media presence has fragmented across platforms since his Fox departure, making definitive answers harder to pin down.

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