History of Tucker Carlson in Timeline
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative political commentator known for hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News from 2016 to 2023. He is now the host of Tucker on X and The Tucker Carlson Show. A proponent of Donald Trump, Carlson has become an influential voice in right-wing media, often associated with Trumpism and white grievance politics. His commentary and shows have generated both significant viewership and considerable controversy.
1941: Birth of Dick Carlson
In 1941, Dick Carlson, Tucker Carlson's father, was born.
1945: Birth of Lisa McNear Lombardi
In 1945, Lisa McNear (née Lombardi), Tucker Carlson's mother, was born.
1955: Swanson Brand Sold to Campbell Soup Company
In 1955, the Swansons sold their brand to the Campbell Soup Company.
May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson's Birth
On May 16, 1969, Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson was born in San Francisco, California.
1972: Normalization of relations with China
Tucker Carlson has said normalization of relations with China following President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit led to unforeseen consequences, and that America became progressively worse off for it.
1976: Carlson's Parents' Divorce
In 1976, Tucker Carlson's parents divorced.
1979: Dick Carlson's Marriage to Patricia Swanson
In 1979, Tucker Carlson's father married Patricia Caroline Swanson, who then adopted Tucker and his brother.
1984: Dick Carlson's Mayoral Race
In 1984, Tucker Carlson's father, Dick Carlson, unsuccessfully challenged Roger Hedgecock in the San Diego mayoral race.
1988: Supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy
In 1988, early in his career, Tucker Carlson supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy when Paul ran as the candidate for the Libertarian Party.
August 10, 1991: Marriage to Susan Thomson Andrews
On August 10, 1991, Tucker Carlson married Susan Thomson Andrews in the chapel of St. George's School, where she was the daughter of the headmaster and priest.
1991: Graduation from Trinity College
In 1991, Tucker Carlson graduated from Trinity College with a B.A. in history.
1995: Joining The Weekly Standard
In 1995, Tucker Carlson joined The Weekly Standard news magazine.
November 29, 1999: Criticism of Donald Trump
On November 29, 1999, Tucker Carlson agreed with Evan Smith's negative opinion of Donald Trump, calling him "the single most repulsive person on the planet."
1999: Interview with George W. Bush
In 1999, Tucker Carlson interviewed then-Governor George W. Bush for Talk magazine, which led to bad publicity for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
2000: CNN Commentator
In 2000, Tucker Carlson became a commentator for CNN.
2000: Co-hosting The Spin Room
In 2000, Tucker Carlson co-hosted the show The Spin Room on CNN.
2000: Capital Punishment Debate
In 2000, Tucker Carlson wrote that capital punishment "deserves more vigorous debate".
2000: Negative Publicity for Bush
In 2000, the interview with George W. Bush continued to generate negative publicity for his presidential campaign.
2000: Vote for George W. Bush
In the 2000 election, Tucker Carlson voted for George W. Bush.
2001: Co-host of Crossfire
In 2001, Tucker Carlson became a co-host of Crossfire on CNN.
2001: Appointment as Co-host of Crossfire
In 2001, Tucker Carlson was appointed co-host of Crossfire on CNN.
2002: Carlson quits drinking alcohol
In 2002, Tucker Carlson quit drinking alcohol. He had quit smoking cigarettes a few years earlier.
September 2003: Publication of Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites
In September 2003, Tucker Carlson's memoir, "Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News", was published by Warner Books. The book received favorable reviews.
November 2003: Hired to helm new PBS program
In November 2003, Carlson was hired to helm a new program for PBS, Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
2003: Publication of Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites
In 2003, Tucker Carlson published his book Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites.
2003: Opposition to Death Penalty and Abortion
In 2003, Tucker Carlson told Salon that he was opposed to the death penalty and abortion.
2003: Washington Conservatives' Suspicion
In 2003, Tucker Carlson told Salon that some Washington conservatives suspected he was "secretly liberal" because he liked John McCain.
2003: Esquire Profile Nomination
In 2003, Tucker Carlson's Esquire profile on his journey to Liberia garnered a nomination at the National Magazine Awards.
2003: Britney Spears Interview
In 2003, Tucker Carlson's interview with Britney Spears was featured in Fahrenheit 9/11.
June 18, 2004: Launch of Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered
On June 18, 2004, Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered launched on PBS.
October 2004: Jon Stewart's Appearance on Crossfire
In October 2004, Jon Stewart appeared on Crossfire and criticized the show and Tucker Carlson, leading to discussions about political discourse.
2004: Britney Spears' Golden Raspberry Award
In 2004, Britney Spears won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her appearance in Fahrenheit 9/11, which featured her 2003 interview with Tucker Carlson.
2004: Jon Stewart Confrontation on Crossfire
In 2004, Lyz Lenz of the Columbia Journalism Review noted that Carlson's debate style mirrors Jon Stewart's confrontation of Carlson on Crossfire, describing Stewart then and Carlson now as both "com[ing] out of the gate with an impossible line of questioning and a disingenuous defense".
2004: Expressed opposition to nanny-state regulations
In 2004, Tucker Carlson stated his opposition to what he described as "nanny-state regulations," citing seat belt laws and smoking bans as examples.
2004: Criticized Bush and the Iraq War in Esquire
In 2004, Tucker Carlson wrote a commentary in Esquire accusing President Bush of weakness after the September 11 attacks and in the invasion of Iraq. He also made derogatory comments about the Iraqi population.
January 5, 2005: CNN Ends Carlson's Contract
On January 5, 2005, CNN chief Jonathan Klein told Tucker Carlson that the network had decided not to renew his contract and would cancel Crossfire.
June 12, 2005: Leaving Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered
On June 12, 2005, Tucker Carlson announced he was leaving Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered on PBS to focus on his new MSNBC show.
June 13, 2005: Premiere of Tucker on MSNBC
On June 13, 2005, Tucker Carlson's show Tucker premiered on MSNBC.
September 13, 2006: Carlson Eliminated from Dancing with the Stars
On September 13, 2006, Tucker Carlson was the first contestant eliminated from season 3 of "Dancing with the Stars", where he was paired with Elena Grinenko.
2006: Use of Offensive Language
From 2006 to 2011, Tucker Carlson used the words pig and cunt to describe several individual women on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.
2006: Registered as a Democrat in D.C.
From 2006 to 2020, Tucker Carlson was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C.
2006: Health Care Reform Signed by Romney
In 2006, Mitt Romney signed health care reform as governor of Massachusetts, which Tucker Carlson later referenced in 2012 when expressing his disappointment with Romney.
2006: Winter Olympics Wrap-Up
In 2006, Tucker Carlson hosted a late-afternoon weekday wrap-up for MSNBC during the Winter Olympics.
2006: Racist Comments
In 2006, Tucker Carlson made racist comments about Iraqis and Muslims.
2006: Reported live from Israel during the Lebanon War
In 2006, Tucker Carlson reported live from Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War. He proposed that Lebanon fight Hezbollah and criticized Syria's involvement, while also expressing support for the Israel Defense Forces but criticizing their tactics.
2006: End of Bow Tie Habit
In 2006, Tucker Carlson stopped wearing bow ties on air, a habit he had since boarding school.
2007: Obama Criticizes Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina
In 2007, Barack Obama was recorded criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
2007: JournoList Launched
In 2007, Ezra Klein launched JournoList, an invitation-only liberal forum.
2007: Comments on Gay Marriage
In 2007, Tucker Carlson described an incident of beating up a gay man and stated he would support legalizing same-sex marriage.
March 10, 2008: Cancellation of Tucker on MSNBC
On March 10, 2008, Tucker was canceled by MSNBC due to low ratings.
March 14, 2008: Final Episode of Tucker on MSNBC
On March 14, 2008, the final episode of Tucker aired on MSNBC.
2008: Wright's Sermons Spark Controversy in Obama's Campaign
In 2008, Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sermons caused a controversy in Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2008: Host of Tucker on MSNBC
In 2008, Tucker Carlson hosted Tucker on MSNBC.
2008: Carlson's Cameo in Swing Vote
In 2008, Tucker Carlson made a cameo appearance as himself in the film "Swing Vote".
2008: Supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy as a Republican
In 2008, Tucker Carlson supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy, when Paul ran as a Republican.
2008: Potential Libertarian Nomination and Ron Paul Rally
In 2008, Tucker Carlson was reportedly considered for the Libertarian nomination and spoke at Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic convention.
2009: Joined the Cato Institute as a senior fellow
From 2009 through 2015, Tucker Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
2009: Political Analyst for Fox News
In 2009, Tucker Carlson became a political analyst for Fox News.
January 11, 2010: The Daily Caller Launched
On January 11, 2010, Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel launched the political news website "The Daily Caller". Carlson served as editor-in-chief.
February 2010: The Daily Caller Joins White House Press Pool
In February 2010, The Daily Caller became part of the White House rotating press pool.
May 25, 2010: Carlson Denied Entry to JournoList
On May 25, 2010, Ezra Klein denied Tucker Carlson's attempt to join JournoList, an invitation-only liberal forum.
June 2010: The Daily Caller Publishes JournoList Excerpts
In June 2010, The Daily Caller published excerpts from e-mails sent between members of JournoList.
September 2010: Carlson Hosts Special on Fox News
In September 2010, Tucker Carlson produced and hosted a special entitled "Fighting for Our Children's Minds" on Fox News.
2010: Co-founding of The Daily Caller
In 2010, Tucker Carlson co-founded The Daily Caller.
2010: Comments on Michael Vick and the Death Penalty
In 2010, after saying Michael Vick "should have been executed" for dog fighting, Tucker Carlson stated that he is "not comfortable with the death penalty under any circumstances".
2011: Use of Offensive Language
From 2006 to 2011, Tucker Carlson used the words pig and cunt to describe several individual women on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.
2011: Death of Lisa McNear Lombardi
In 2011, Lisa McNear Lombardi, Tucker Carlson's mother, passed away.
2011: Protest outside Carlson's house
In 2011, a group of protesters gathered outside Tucker Carlson's house in Kent, Washington, D.C., to protest Carlson.
February 2012: The Daily Caller Publishes Exposé on Media Matters
In February 2012, The Daily Caller published an "investigative series" of articles co-authored by Carlson, purporting to be an insiders' exposé of Media Matters for America and its founder David Brock.
October 2012: Carlson Publicizes Obama Video
In October 2012, Tucker Carlson publicized a 2007 video recording of then-Senator Barack Obama criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
2012: Mitt Romney Presidential Campaign
In 2012, Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee for president.
2012: Disappointment with Mitt Romney
In 2012, Tucker Carlson expressed his disappointment with Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
April 2013: Carlson Joins Fox & Friends Weekend
In April 2013, Tucker Carlson replaced Dave Briggs as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
2013: Carlson Discusses His Religious Views
In 2013, Tucker Carlson stated that he despises the Episcopal Church in a lot of ways, citing his opposition to the church's support for same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
2015: Senior fellow at Cato Institute
From 2009 through 2015, Tucker Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
2015: Comments on Australian Gun Laws
In 2015, Tucker Carlson said Australian gun laws were "insane" and "childish".
January 2016: Support for Donald Trump's Candidacy
In January 2016, Tucker Carlson expressed his support for Donald Trump's candidacy and his positions, including the proposed "Muslim ban".
March 2016: Criticism of Mitt Romney's Denouncement of Trump
In March 2016, after Mitt Romney denounced Donald Trump for his "disqualifying and disgusting response" to questions about David Duke's support, Tucker Carlson criticized Romney and dismissed his speech by suggesting "Obama could have written this."
November 14, 2016: Tucker Carlson Tonight Premiere
On November 14, 2016, Tucker Carlson began hosting "Tucker Carlson Tonight" on Fox News, replacing "On the Record".
2016: Trump Campaign Buys Subscriber List from Daily Caller
In 2016, Donald Trump's presidential campaign paid The Daily Caller $150,000 for its list of subscribers, whom the Trump campaign then emailed at least 25 times.
2016: Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight
In 2016, Tucker Carlson began hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News.
January 9, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Moves to 9:00 PM
On January 9, 2017, Tucker Carlson's show replaced Megyn Kelly at the 9:00 PM time slot after she left Fox News.
January 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Scores High Ratings
In January 2017, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" averaged 2.8 million viewers per night, ranking as the number two cable news program behind "The O'Reilly Factor".
February 23, 2017: The Atlantic describes Carlson's talent for partisan combat
On February 23, 2017, The Atlantic wrote that Tucker Carlson's true talent is not for political philosophizing, it's for televised partisan combat.
March 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Most Watched Cable Program
In March 2017, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" was the most watched cable program in the 9:00 PM time slot.
April 19, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Airs at 8:00 PM
On April 19, 2017, following the cancellation of "The O'Reilly Factor", Fox News announced that "Tucker Carlson Tonight" would air at 8:00 PM.
May 2017: Book Deal with Simon & Schuster
In May 2017, Tucker Carlson, represented by Javelin, signed an eight-figure, two-book deal with Simon & Schuster's Threshold Editions.
June 2017: The Daily Caller Paid by Trump Campaign
In June 2017, it was reported that The Daily Caller was paid $150,000 by Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign for its list of subscribers, leading to conflict of interest concerns.
July 2017: Stated Iran posed no domestic threat to the US
In July 2017, Tucker Carlson said that "we actually don't face any domestic threat from Iran". He asked Max Boot to "tell me how many Americans in the United States have been murdered by terrorists backed by Iran since 9/11?"
September 19, 2017: GQ profile describes Carlson's tactics
On September 19, 2017, Stephen Rodrick wrote in a GQ profile of Carlson that on his show, Carlson mocks and verbally body-slams those who disagree with him.
2017: New York Times on Stewart's Dressing-Down
In 2017, The New York Times referred to Jon Stewart's "on-air dressing-down" of Tucker Carlson as an "ignominious career" moment, linking it to the show's cancellation.
2017: Carlson's Reason for Democrat Registration
In 2017, Tucker Carlson explained that he registered as a Democrat to vote in mayoral primaries in Washington, D.C., despite disliking the party.
2017: Carlson sells his home
In 2017, Tucker Carlson sold his home in Kent, Washington D.C., and purchased another nearby.
2017: Disapproval of White Supremacy
In 2017, Tucker Carlson stated that he does not approve of white supremacy.
March 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight Third-Highest-Rated Cable News Show
As of March 2018, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" was the third-highest-rated cable news show.
March 2018: Criticism of Trump's Gun Control Comments
In March 2018, Tucker Carlson criticized Donald Trump for comments supporting gun control after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
April 2018: Questioned Assad's responsibility for Douma chemical attack
In April 2018, Tucker Carlson questioned whether Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the Douma chemical attack that had occurred a few days earlier and killed dozens.
August 2018: Allegations About South African Government Targeting White Farmers
In August 2018, Tucker Carlson alleged that the South African government was targeting white farmers because "they are the wrong skin color" and made false claims about land theft. These claims were refuted by multiple news organizations.
October 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight Second-Highest Rated Show
In October 2018, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" was the second-highest rated cable news show in prime time, with 3.2 million nightly viewers.
October 2018: Release of Ship of Fools
In October 2018, Tucker Carlson's book, "Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution," was released and debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
November 2018: Protest Outside Carlson's Home
In November 2018, a "Smash Racism D.C." group protested outside Tucker Carlson's home in Washington, D.C., and his driveway was vandalized.
2018: Promoted populist economics
Beginning in 2018, Tucker Carlson promoted more populist economics, attacking libertarianism, saying "market capitalism is not a religion" and portraying some Republicans as "controlled by the banks".
2018: Criticism of China's Treatment of Muslims
In 2018, Tucker Carlson criticized China's treatment of Muslims.
2018: Comments on Mass Immigration
In 2018, Tucker Carlson described the effects of mass immigration on the United States using the terms dirtier, poorer, and more divided, also saying it "has badly hurt this country's natural landscape". He also questioned multiculturalism in the United States.
2018: Carlson incorrectly argues Donald Trump was victim of extortion
In 2018, Tucker Carlson incorrectly argued that Donald Trump had been a victim of extortion by Karen McDougal, which later led to a slander lawsuit against Fox News, defended in 2020.
2018: Publication of Ship of Fools
In 2018, Tucker Carlson published his book Ship of Fools.
2018: Denial of Racism and Promotion of Conspiracy Theories
In 2018, amid accusations of promoting racism, Tucker Carlson denied being a racist, stating, "I'm not a racist. I hate racism." Additionally, commentators described him as promoting racism through his rhetoric. Also in 2018, Bill Kristol described Carlson's commentaries as "close now to racism" and "ethno-nationalism of some kind, let's call it".
2018: Carlson Accuses McDougal of Extortion
In a 2018 episode of his show, Tucker Carlson accused Karen McDougal of extorting Donald Trump, leading to a lawsuit in December 2019.
2018: Adoption of Pat Buchanan's Views
In his 2018 book, "Ship of Fools," Tucker Carlson wrote that he had adopted some of Pat Buchanan's views.
2018: Protests at Carlson's home
In late 2018, protesters gathered in front of Tucker Carlson's home.
January 2019: Tucker Carlson Tonight Viewership Drops
By January 2019, "Tucker Carlson Tonight's" show dropped to third with 2.8 million nightly viewers.
January 2019: Criticized "mainstream Republican" worldview
In January 2019, Tucker Carlson used a The Washington Post op-ed by Romney to criticize what he described as the "mainstream Republican" worldview, consisting of "unwavering support for a finance-based economy."
March 2019: Calls to Fire Carlson over Remarks
In March 2019, there were calls to fire Tucker Carlson from Fox News after Media Matters resurfaced remarks he had made over several years to the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge concerning women, statutory rape, Iraqis, and immigrants.
May 2019: Defended Trump's tariffs on Mexico
In May 2019, Tucker Carlson defended President Trump's decision to place tariffs on Mexico unless Mexico stopped illegal immigration to the United States, stating that Mexico is a hostile foreign power.
May 2019: Comments on Illegal Workers
In May 2019, Tucker Carlson stated that the "flood of illegal workers into the United States has damaged our communities, ruined our schools, burdened our healthcare system and fractured our national unity."
June 2019: Defended Trump's friendship with Kim Jong-un
In June 2019, Tucker Carlson defended President Trump's friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone. He acknowledged the North Korean regime was "monstrous" but argued that leading a country "means killing people".
June 2019: Dissuaded Trump from launching military strikes against Iran
In June 2019, Tucker Carlson reportedly played an influential role in dissuading President Trump from launching military strikes against Iran after the shooting down of an American drone.
July 9, 2019: Criticism of Ilhan Omar
On July 9, 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized Representative Ilhan Omar, accusing her of being ungrateful to the United States and implying that immigration practices were dangerous. This monologue was described as "racially loaded" and incited criticism.
August 2019: Companies Fulfill Media Buy Contracts
By August 2019, Media Matters calculated that some companies had fulfilled their media buy contracts and advertising inventory for the time slot and had now begun their purchases for other time slots on Fox News.
September 10, 2019: Bolton fired after Carlson lobbied Trump
On September 10, 2019, John Bolton was fired as national security advisor after Tucker Carlson lobbied Donald Trump to fire him. Carlson had criticized Bolton for seeking a military strike against Iran.
November 2019: Repeated claims about Douma chemical attack and suggested false flag
In November 2019, Tucker Carlson repeated his claim questioning whether the Douma chemical attack had happened at all. He also suggested the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack was a false flag operation.
December 2019: Karen McDougal Sues Fox News
In December 2019, Playboy model Karen McDougal sued Fox News after Carlson accused her of extorting Donald Trump.
December 2019: False Claims About Immigrants and the Potomac River
In December 2019, Tucker Carlson falsely claimed that immigrants were responsible for making the Potomac River "dirtier and dirtier".
2019: Release of Racist Comments by Media Matters
In 2019, Media Matters for America released recordings of racist comments made by Tucker Carlson in 2006, including derogatory remarks about Iraqis and Muslims.
2019: MacDougald's Description of Carlson
In 2019, Park MacDougald described Carlson as a "Middle American radical" in New York magazine's Intelligencer, noting his populist economic beliefs and strong views on nationalism, race, and immigration.
2019: Accusations of Democrats and the Great Replacement Theory
In 2019, Tucker Carlson accused Democrats of supporting increased immigration to change the racial demographics of the United States. Commentators described these views as endorsement of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.
2019: Criticized LeBron James for speaking out against Daryl Morey
In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized LeBron James for speaking out against Daryl Morey, who tweeted in support of the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests.
2019: Criticized hedge funds and praised Elizabeth Warren's economic plan
In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized hedge funds (singling out the Republican donor Paul Singer) and praised Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's economic plan. He also called Warren's book "The Two Income Trap" one of the best books he's ever read on economics.
2019: Expressed support for Russia
In 2019, during a discussion about U.S. military aid to Ukraine on his show, Tucker Carlson stated, "Why shouldn't I root for Russia? Which I am", later claiming it was a joke. He followed this by saying, "I think we should probably take the side of Russia if we have to choose between Russia and Ukraine".
2019: Ownership of AR-15 Style Rifle
In a 2019 interview, Tucker Carlson said he owns an AR-15 style rifle and said "all my guns are working-class guns".
January 2020: Criticism of Soleimani Assassination
In January 2020, Tucker Carlson criticized the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, which was ordered by Donald Trump.
May 2020: Questioning the Severity of COVID-19
By May 2020, Tucker Carlson began to publicly question the severity of the COVID-19 virus and criticized stay-at-home orders.
June 2020: Criticism of Trump's Handling of BLM Protests
In June 2020, Tucker Carlson said that Donald Trump had let Black Lives Matter protests go too far.
June 2020: Carlson Sells Stake in The Daily Caller
In June 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his one-third stake in The Daily Caller to Neil Patel.
July 2020: Blake Neff Resigns from Tucker Carlson Tonight
In July 2020, Blake Neff, Carlson's head writer, resigned after CNN Business reported his racist, sexist, and homophobic posts on AutoAdmit.
August 2020: Defense of Kyle Rittenhouse
In August 2020, Tucker Carlson aired segments defending Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three protesters, killing two, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
September 2020: Carlson discusses lying on TV
In September 2020, on The Rubin Report, Tucker Carlson stated that he tries not to lie on TV, but admits he will if he's "really cornered or something", citing weakness as a reason.
October 2020: Tucker Carlson Tonight Reaches Record Viewership
By October 2020, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" averaged 5.3 million viewers, becoming the highest of any cable news program in history at that point.
November 20, 2020: Promoted COVID-19 lab leak theory on his show
On November 20, 2020, Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui brought Li-Meng Yan to America to promote the COVID-19 lab leak theory. Bannon and Guo set up appearances for Yan on Carlson's show to promote the theory.
2020: Tucker Carlson Tonight Becomes Highest-Rated Cable News Show
Beginning the week of June 8–14, 2020, Tucker Carlson Tonight became the highest-rated cable news show in the U.S., with an average of four million viewers.
2020: Reported Vote for Kanye West
Following the 2020 election, Tucker Carlson reportedly told people he had voted for independent candidate Kanye West.
2020: Fox News defends Carlson in slander lawsuit
In 2020, Fox News successfully defended Tucker Carlson in a slander lawsuit by Karen McDougal, citing Carlson's use of hyperbole as a rhetorical device.
2020: Called Soleimani assassination a quagmire
In 2020, Tucker Carlson referred to the assassination of Qasem Soleimani as a "quagmire" and criticized those promoting foreign interventions.
2020: Criticized Bob Iger as a propagandist for the Chinese Communist Party
In 2020, Tucker Carlson referred to the former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, as a "propagandist" for the Chinese Communist Party.
2020: Carlson Purchases House in Florida
In 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his home in Kent and bought a house on Gasparilla Island, on Florida's Gulf Coast.
2020: Departure from The Daily Caller
In 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his ownership stake and left The Daily Caller.
2020: Response to Head Writer's Firing
In 2020, after his head writer was fired for hateful blog posts, Tucker Carlson stated, "They have no connection to the show. It is wrong to attack people for qualities they cannot control."
2020: End of Democrat Registration
Tucker Carlson's registration as a Democrat in Washington D.C., which began in 2006, ended in 2020.
February 2021: Carlson Announces Multiyear Deal with Fox News
In February 2021, Tucker Carlson announced a multiyear deal with Fox News to host a new weekly podcast and series of monthly specials dubbed "Tucker Carlson Originals" on Fox Nation.
March 2021: Ridicule of Maternity Flight Suits
In March 2021, Tucker Carlson ridiculed maternity flight suits for U.S. women soldiers, leading to a rebuke from the U.S. military.
March 2021: Blamed colonial powers for Latin American immigration crisis
In March 2021, Tucker Carlson stated that issues like the Latin American immigration crisis should be blamed on "other colonial powers centuries ago" instead of the United States. He suggested that the Spanish government should start by "sending back the gold now sitting in its central bank."
June 21, 2021: Report as Media Source
On June 21, 2021, The New York Times reported that Tucker Carlson was a media source for several journalists and authors who wrote critically of Donald Trump.
July 2021: Time article discusses Carlson's statements
In July 2021, Charlotte Alter of Time wrote that Carlson sometimes tells "outright falsehoods", but generally "avoids assertions that are factually disprovable, instead sticking to innuendo".
July 2021: Criticism of the Republican Party
In July 2021, Tucker Carlson told Time magazine that the Republican Party is "inept and bad at governing".
August 2021: Traveled to Hungary and praised Viktor Orbán
In August 2021, Tucker Carlson traveled to Hungary, broadcasting from Budapest. He praised the country and its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, for rejecting asylum seekers and downplayed authoritarian concerns.
August 2021: Release of The Long Slide
In August 2021, Tucker Carlson's second book, "The Long Slide: Thirty Years in American Journalism", was released.
December 2021: Comments on Gender Differences
In December 2021, Tucker Carlson commented on the falling labor participation rate of U.S. men, stating that "Men and women are very different, extremely different. Society is built on their differences."
2021: Tucker Carlson Tonight Remains Most-Watched Cable Show
As of mid-2021, Tucker Carlson Tonight remained the most-watched news-related cable show.
2021: Time Magazine's Description of Carlson
In 2021, Time magazine described Tucker Carlson as "may be the most powerful conservative in America".
2021: Carlson's Influence and Power
In 2021, Time suggested Tucker Carlson could be the most powerful conservative in America. Mediaite named Carlson the most influential person in news media in 2021.
2021: Criticism of Pete Buttigieg's Paternity Leave
In 2021, Tucker Carlson belittled the paternity leave taken by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, joking about Buttigieg trying to breastfeed.
2021: Promotion of "Great Replacement" Theory
In 2021, Tucker Carlson described the Democratic strategy of "demographic replacement" to increase their voter base as "the Great Replacement", using terminology associated with white nationalism. This statement and associated viewpoints were criticized as endorsements of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.
2021: Publication of The Long Slide
In 2021, Tucker Carlson published his book The Long Slide.
2021: Carlson included in Time 100
In 2021, Tucker Carlson was included in the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
January 2022: Released 'Hungary vs. Soros' on Fox Nation
In January 2022, Tucker Carlson released the film "Hungary vs. Soros" on Fox Nation, promoting conspiracy theories about George Soros. The film was criticized for being "anti-American propaganda".
February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. Tucker Carlson later interviewed Vladimir Putin, which was Putin's first one-on-one interview with a Western journalist since the invasion.
February 2022: Support for Canada Convoy Protest
In February 2022, Tucker Carlson supported the Canada convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions and called it "the single most successful human rights protest in a generation".
April 2022: The New York Times publishes "American Nationalist"
In April 2022, The New York Times published a three-part 20,000-word investigative series on Carlson called "American Nationalist" which accuses Tucker Carlson Tonight as "what may be the most racist show in the history of cable news." Carlson responded that he has not read it and does not plan to.
May 2022: Tucker Carlson Tonight Second to The Five
Through May 2022 Tucker Carlson Tonight was a close second to The Five in viewership, while leading in the 25–54 demographic.
September 2022: Carlson speaks at Sonny Barger's funeral
In September 2022, Tucker Carlson spoke at the funeral of Hells Angels president Sonny Barger, quoting Barger and paying tribute to him.
September 2022: Comments on the British Empire after Queen Elizabeth II's death
In September 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Tucker Carlson stated that the British Empire, while "not perfect", brought civilization to its occupied regions with a level of "decency unmatched by any empire in human history". This statement was criticized, particularly in India.
October 11, 2022: Release of Leaked Unaired Kanye West Interview Footage
On October 11, 2022, Vice's Motherboard published leaked, unaired footage from Tucker Carlson's interview with Kanye West. The footage revealed West expressing Black Hebrew Israelite views, claiming he received a COVID-19 vaccine, and alleging child actors sexualized his kids. The footage was heavily scrutinized, especially after West made antisemitic statements on social media.
October 2022: Tulsi Gabbard's Appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight
In October 2022, Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight the night she left the Democratic Party, which Carlson praised.
November 2022: Scrutiny After Colorado Springs Nightclub Shooting
In November 2022, Tucker Carlson's promotion of inflammatory rhetoric about LGBTQ controversies was scrutinized after the Colorado Springs nightclub mass shooting.
2022: Acknowledging Factual Errors
In 2022, Bump argued that compared with other television anchors, Carlson is loath to acknowledge factual errors in his commentary.
2022: Interview with Kanye West
In 2022, Tucker Carlson aired an edited interview with Ye (Kanye West) where West discussed wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt and his views on abortion, claiming, without evidence, disproportionate abortions among Black babies in New York City.
2022: Denial of Belief in Great Replacement Conspiracy Theory
In 2022, Tucker Carlson challenged accusations that he believes the Great Replacement conspiracy theory and questioned its popularity after it was invoked by mass shooters, contradicting his previous endorsement.
2022: Release of "The End of Men"
In 2022, Tucker Carlson released "The End of Men", a Tucker Carlson Original alleging a decline in American masculinity. The episode featured Raw Egg Nationalist, an author affiliated with neo-Nazi publishing house Antelope Hill.
2022: Defended Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, Tucker Carlson was noted for defending Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Response to Criticism from The New York Times
In 2022, responding to a report in The New York Times critical of Tucker Carlson and his show, Carlson defended his show's views on race, invoking Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy and praising Malcolm X for his dignified manner of speaking.
2022: Downplayed Russia's military buildup and promoted pro-Russian disinformation
In early 2022, Tucker Carlson downplayed Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders. While he called the invasion "awful", he promoted pro-Russian disinformation, such as a conspiracy theory about U.S. and Kyiv developing biological weapons in Ukraine. His broadcasts were used by Russian state media, with the Kremlin sending a memo to state media to use clips of Carlson as much as possible.
2022: Carlson Purchases Second Home Next Door
In the summer of 2022, Tucker Carlson bought a second home next door to his house on Gasparilla Island, Florida.
March 2023: Defense of Trump After Indictment
In March 2023, Tucker Carlson defended Donald Trump after he was indicted in New York, calling the indictment "election interference".
April 2023: Cancellation of Tucker Carlson Tonight and Launch of New Show
In April 2023, Fox News canceled Tucker Carlson Tonight, leading Tucker Carlson to launch his own program, The Tucker Carlson Show.
April 24, 2023: Fox News Dismisses Carlson
On April 24, 2023, Fox News dismissed Tucker Carlson and the executive producer of his evening show without prior notice.
May 9, 2023: Carlson Announces Show Relaunch on Twitter
On May 9, 2023, Tucker Carlson announced he would relaunch his show on Twitter. His attorneys also alleged that Fox executives broke promises to him.
June 6, 2023: Release of Tucker on Twitter's First Episode
On June 6, 2023, Tucker Carlson released the first episode of his show, "Tucker on Twitter." During the episode, he made controversial claims about extraterrestrial starships, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kakhovka Dam destruction, Black Lives Matter riots, and the September 11 attacks.
June 2023: Reported Pursuit of Funds for New Media Company
In June 2023, it was reported that Tucker Carlson was seeking funds with Neil Patel to start a new media company.
August 23, 2023: Donald Trump Interview on Tucker on X
On August 23, 2023, Tucker Carlson hosted Donald Trump on "Tucker on X" (formerly Twitter), coinciding with the first 2024 Republican debate.
September 6, 2023: Interview with Larry Sinclair
On September 6, 2023, Tucker Carlson interviewed Larry Sinclair, who made controversial claims about Barack Obama. This interview was criticized by many, including Elon Musk.
September 2023: Interview with Man Claiming to Have Had Sex with Barack Obama
In September 2023, Tucker Carlson interviewed a man who claimed to have had sex with Barack Obama, which generated controversy.
October 2023: Guest Hosts Fill Carlson's Old Slot
As of October 2023, a rotation of guest hosts fill Tucker Carlson's old slot on Fox News until a permanent replacement is found.
November 2023: Article in La Gaceta retracted after Carlson supported Spanish protests
In November 2023, an article in La Gaceta, which criticized Tucker Carlson's statements on Spain was retracted after Carlson appeared with Santiago Abascal in support of the 2023 Spanish protests.
2023: Release of Tucker Biography
In 2023, Chadwick Moore released a biography of Tucker Carlson titled "Tucker". Carlson assisted Moore with the book, which focused on Carlson's exit from Fox News. The book performed poorly in sales.
2023: End of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News
In 2023, Tucker Carlson's contract with Fox News was terminated, ending Tucker Carlson Tonight.
2023: Criticized wind power for whale deaths
In 2023, Tucker Carlson, Clean Ocean Action, and multiple Republicans criticized New Jersey and New York's use of wind power, falsely claiming that it has been contributing to the deaths of whales.
February 2024: Interview with Vladimir Putin
In February 2024, Tucker Carlson became the first Western journalist to interview Vladimir Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
May 2024: Launch of The Tucker Carlson Show Podcast
In May 2024, Tucker Carlson launched his weekly commentary podcast, "The Tucker Carlson Show."
July 2024: "The Tucker Carlson Show" Reached #1 on Spotify
By July 2024, "The Tucker Carlson Show" became one of the highest-rating political podcasts, reaching the #1 spot on Spotify.
August 1, 2024: Release of Gershkovich, Kurmasheva, and Whelan
Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan were released on August 1, 2024, as part of a prisoner exchange, which occurred after Tucker Carlson raised the issue during his interview with Vladimir Putin.
September 2, 2024: Hosting Darryl Cooper on Tucker on X
On September 2, 2024, Tucker Carlson hosted podcaster and amateur historian Darryl Cooper on "Tucker on X". Cooper endorsed Holocaust denial, causing controversy.
2024: Dismissal of Climate Change Link to Hurricanes
In 2024, Tucker Carlson dismissed the link between climate change and the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, attributing it instead to abortion.
2024: Carlson claims of demon attacks and nuclear technology origin
In 2024, Tucker Carlson shared that he believes he was mauled by a demon while he was in bed and claimed that nuclear technology was created by demons.
2024: Carlson considers a presidential run
In 2024, Tucker Carlson stated on his podcast that he would consider running for president in 2028, but conceded that he didn't think he'd be very good at it.
June 2025: Criticized Trump's support for Israeli strikes against Iran
In June 2025, Tucker Carlson criticized President Trump's support for Israeli strikes against Iran and opposed the possible involvement of the United States in a war with Iran.
September 2025: Criticism of Pam Bondi
In September 2025, Tucker Carlson criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for allegedly attempting to exploit the assassination of Charlie Kirk to suppress free speech in the United States.
2025: Death of Dick Carlson
In 2025, Dick Carlson, Tucker Carlson's father, passed away.
2025: Criticized Trump administration's support for Israel in Gaza war
In 2025, Tucker Carlson criticized the Trump administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war.
2028: Possible presidential run
In 2024, while discussing a potential run for president in 2028, Tucker Carlson conceded that he didn't think he'd be very good at it.
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