15 Months Later, Tucker Carlson Returns to Fox News with GOP Convention Speech

NEW YORK — Tucker Carlson returned to Fox News’ airwaves 15 months after being unceremoniously fired, featuring prominently in its coverage of a Republican National Convention speech that underscored his growing influence in Donald Trump’s sphere.

Carlson praised the Republican nominee’s return as a transformed man, stating Trump had “effectively become the leader of this nation” following an assassination attempt the previous Saturday.

During his 11-minute speech in Milwaukee, Carlson highlighted his own evolution too. Once a media personality privately eager to disregard Trump post-2020 election, Carlson now occupies a prime-time role on the convention’s climactic night. He was also seen throughout the convention and reportedly advocated for Ohio Sen. JD Vance as Trump’s potential running mate.

Fox News showcased Carlson’s speech during the same evening time slot that once belonged to him, the former cable news king. CNN and MSNBC opted not to air it.

“That was Tucker Carlson,” noted his Fox replacement, Jesse Watters. “You may remember him from the 8 o’clock hour here.”

Carlson’s dismissal came a week after Fox agreed to a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over inaccuracies the network broadcast following the 2020 election. Fox has never provided a clear explanation for Carlson’s departure, leading to widespread speculation about the reasons behind the decision made by the network founded by Rupert Murdoch.

Since then, Carlson launched his own online network but has yet to regain the level of influence he once had hosting a popular nightly show on Fox News.

Carlson has released several online interviews featuring key figures in the conservative movement, including a notable conversation with Trump aimed at countering a debate among Trump’s GOP contenders. His interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February made headlines, as Putin later remarked he had expected Carlson to be more aggressive with his questioning.

Carlson has also monetized his brand through various speaking engagements and recently finished a tour in Australia. In September, he plans to embark on a U.S. arena tour with special guests such as Donald Trump Jr., Roseanne Barr, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Russell Brand, Kid Rock, Vivek Ramaswamy, and other former Fox News personalities like Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, and Dan Bongino.

According to Justin Wells, a longtime adviser, Carlson’s convention speech on Thursday was unscripted. In his speech, Carlson extolled Trump as a courageous leader whose bravery had inspired many, especially in the wake of an assassination attempt the previous weekend in western Pennsylvania. He credited Trump with fostering unity at a time when others might have chosen to sow division.

“Trump turned down the most obvious opportunity to inflame the nation after being shot,” Carlson said, adding that “in the moment, he did his best to bring the country together.”

He also suggested that skeptics might be reconsidering their disbelief in God due to recent events.

While Carlson minimized divisive political rhetoric, he did criticize the substantial financial aid the U.S. has provided to Ukraine, describing it as “a middle finger in the face of every American.”

Source: AP News