What started as a celebration over Fox’s decision to distance itself from controversial talk-show host Tucker Carlson quickly turned somber when it became apparent that Carlson was not just quietly “going away” and would continue to plague their shadowy news organizations from the sidelines.
With the demise of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and the loss of its 3.32 million viewers, liberal news outlets briefly enjoyed the fantasy that they could nab just a portion of Carlson’s support from his prized demographic of viewers ages 25 to 54.
But people trust The Onion and Babylon Bee more than CNN, and the dream turned to ashes. And it turns out that Carlson was far from finished.
In April, Carlson launched a talk show on X, formerly known as Twitter. He has written a book about his time at Fox and is discussing the launch of his own media company. He aired an interview with GOP frontrunner Donald Trump when the former president played hooky from the first presidential debate.
And now, it seems Carlson may have another career path in his future as Trump’s running mate.
Former President Donald Trump has signaled openness to the idea of considering Tucker Carlson as a potential running mate for the 2024 presidential race, acknowledging the influential appeal of conservative media voices. Trump expressed a positive view of Carlson, stating, “I like Tucker a lot. I guess I would consider him. He’s got great common sense.”
The idea is gaining momentum with MAGA Trump supporters and key conservatives. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk expressed support for Tucker Carlson as a potential running mate in the 2024 presidential race, highlighting Carlson’s ability to thrive under pressure and his similarity to Trump in style.
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia echoed Kirk’s sentiments on X, stating, “I agree with you, Charlie. There’s no one better than Tucker Carlson!!”
During a conversation on The Charlie Kirk Show, conservative political commentator Benny Johnson expressed full support for Carlson as vice president, stating, “Yeah, totally, 100 percent” when asked about the former Fox host’s viability.
Conservative political commentary host Rogan O’Handley outlined his vision for top positions in 2024 on X, with Donald Trump as president and Tucker Carlson as vice president.
But not everyone agrees. Some individuals on social media expressed that Tucker Carlson would not be suitable for the vice president position. One user, Eric Hoglund, emphasized the importance of Carlson staying objective and continuing his valuable work outside of politics. Another user, MTrucksa, suggested that Carlson might be better suited for a public speaker role and might not enjoy being a vice president. Instead, they recommended placing him in a cabinet position if Trump were to consider him for a role in the government.
But, like Trump, sometimes Carlson can’t seem to get out of his own way. He criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for supporting aid to Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Carlson questioned prioritizing another country’s welfare over national interests, calling it misguided.
But Carlson has broadly expressed his loyalty to Trump, a fact that has not escaped the embattled GOP front-runner. His criticism of Trump following the 2020 election fraud claims was not a denial of the fraud itself but that Trump’s actions damaged the case. Carlson never doubted that there was widespread voter fraud but felt that Trump’s approach had discredited himself, his case, and his supporters, which Carlson called “infuriating.”
Critics don’t have a leg to stand on should Trump follow through and choose Carlson as second-in-command. The eligibility requirements for the Vice President of the United States are outlined in the U.S. Constitution and state that a candidate must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age, and a United States resident for at least 14 years.
Check, check, and check.
Trump has been less than enthusiastic about choosing a running mate, denying it would be Florida Governor Ron DeSantis or former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Considering the contentiousness of the current GOP field, it’s not likely that Trump would pick any of his rivals for the number two spot.
The fact that Carlson is not a simpering supporter of Trump might make him an even more appealing candidate to both Trump and voters. He and Trump share views of what a conservative America should be, but Carlson is anything but a “yes man” who will unquestioningly cave to Trump’s demands. Well-spoken and intelligent, Carlson’s time on cable news means that he understands politics while remaining, so far, untainted by them. Could Carlson be the perfect balance to Trump’s boisterous personality? It’s just under a year before the 2024 elections, and it’s still anyone’s game to win, lose, or draw.
