Full History Of Tucker Carlson In Timeline From 1941

1941: Dick Carlson Born

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

In 1955, the Swansons sold their brand to the Campbell Soup Company before Tucker Carlson's father married Patricia Swanson.

May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson Born

On May 16, 1969, Tucker Carlson was born in San Francisco, California, at the Children's Hospital.

May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson Born

On May 16, 1969, Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson was born in San Francisco, California. He is an American conservative political commentator.

1972: Richard Nixon's Visit to China

In 1972, Richard Nixon visited China which led to the normalization of relations.

1976: Parents' Divorce

In 1976, Tucker Carlson's parents divorced after a nine-year marriage. His father was granted custody, and his mother moved to France.

1979: Father's Marriage to Patricia Swanson

In 1979, Tucker Carlson's father married Patricia Caroline Swanson, an heiress to Swanson Enterprises, who then legally adopted Tucker and his brother.

1984: Father's Mayoral Challenge

In 1984, Tucker Carlson's father unsuccessfully challenged the incumbent Republican Party mayor Roger Hedgecock in the San Diego mayoral race.

1988: Supported Ron Paul's candidacy

In 1988, Tucker Carlson supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy when Paul ran as the candidate for the Libertarian Party.

August 10, 1991: Carlson married Susan Thomson Andrews

On August 10, 1991, Tucker Carlson married Susan Thomson Andrews in the chapel of St. George's School, where they had met. Susan was the daughter of the school's headmaster and priest. They later had four children together.

1991: Graduates from Trinity College

In 1991, Tucker Carlson graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with a B.A. in history.

1995: Joins The Weekly Standard

In 1995, Tucker Carlson joined The Weekly Standard news magazine as an opinion writer.

November 29, 1999: Carlson's low opinion of Donald Trump

On November 29, 1999, Tucker Carlson agreed with Evan Smith's low opinion of Donald Trump, calling Trump "the single most repulsive person on the planet".

1999: Interviews George W. Bush

In 1999, Tucker Carlson interviewed then-Governor George W. Bush for Talk magazine, quoting Bush mocking Karla Faye Tucker. This led to bad publicity for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

2000: Capital punishment debate

In 2000, Carlson wrote that capital punishment "deserves more vigorous debate".

2000: Becomes CNN Commentator

In 2000, Tucker Carlson became a commentator for CNN.

2000: Co-hosts The Spin Room

In 2000, Tucker Carlson co-hosted the short-lived show The Spin Room on CNN.

2000: Bush presidential campaign

In 2000, the piece Carlson wrote led to bad publicity for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

2000: Voted for George W. Bush

In the 2000 election, Tucker Carlson voted for George W. Bush.

October 17, 2001: Plane Crash in Dubai

On October 17, 2001, Tucker Carlson and his father were involved in a plane crash in Dubai while working on a story for New York covering the Taliban.

2001: Co-hosts Crossfire

From 2001 to 2005, Tucker Carlson co-hosted Crossfire, CNN's prime-time news debate program.

2001: Appointed Co-host of Crossfire

In 2001, Tucker Carlson was appointed co-host of Crossfire on CNN.

2002: Carlson quit drinking alcohol

In 2002, Tucker Carlson made the decision to quit drinking alcohol. This marked a change in his lifestyle.

September 2003: Published 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 by PBS

In November 2003, Tucker Carlson was hired to helm a new program for PBS, Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.

2003: Suspicions of being "secretly liberal"

In 2003, Carlson told Salon that some Washington conservatives suspected he was "secretly liberal" because he liked John McCain.

2003: Interview with Britney Spears

In 2003, Tucker Carlson interviewed Britney Spears, whose remarks about trusting the president were featured in the 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11.

2003: Public Support for Iraq Invasion

In 2003, Tucker Carlson publicly supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a decision he would later express regret for.

2003: Publishes Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites

In 2003, Tucker Carlson released his book "Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites".

2003: Opposed to death penalty and abortion

In 2003, Tucker Carlson told Salon, "I'm opposed to the death penalty as I am adamantly opposed to abortion".

2003: Esquire Profile Nomination

In 2003, Tucker Carlson's Esquire profile on his journey to Liberia alongside Reverend Al Sharpton garnered a nomination at the National Magazine Awards.

June 18, 2004: Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered Launches

On June 18, 2004, Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered launched on PBS.

October 2004: Jon Stewart on Crossfire

In October 2004, Jon Stewart appeared on Crossfire and criticized the show for harming political discourse in the U.S., singling out Tucker Carlson for criticism.

2004: Britney Spears in Fahrenheit 9/11

In 2004, Britney Spears won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her appearance in the film Fahrenheit 9/11, which featured her 2003 interview with Tucker Carlson.

2004: Hated Nanny-State Regulations

In 2004, Carlson said, "I hate all nanny-state regulations, such as seat belt laws and smoking bans."

2004: Renounces Support for Iraq War

In 2004, Tucker Carlson renounced his initial support for the Iraq War.

2004: Criticism of the Iraq War

In 2004, a year after the invasion of Iraq, Tucker Carlson wrote a commentary in Esquire accusing President Bush of weakness after the September 11 attacks and in the invasion of Iraq and said "Iraq is a crappy place filled with a bunch of, you know, semi-literate primitive monkeys, that’s why it wasn’t worth invading."

2004: Resigned from Crossfire

In April 2004, Tucker Carlson stated he resigned from Crossfire because he didn't like the partisanship.

2004: Did not vote in election

Tucker Carlson did not vote in the 2004 election, citing his disillusionment with the Iraq War and the Republican Party.

January 5, 2005: CNN Ends Carlson's Contract

On January 5, 2005, CNN chief Jonathan Klein told Tucker Carlson the network had decided not to renew his contract. CNN announced it was ending its relationship with Carlson and would soon cancel Crossfire.

June 12, 2005: Leaves Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered

On June 12, 2005, Tucker Carlson announced he was leaving Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered, roughly a year after it started, to focus on his new MSNBC show.

June 13, 2005: Tucker Premieres on MSNBC

On June 13, 2005, Tucker, originally titled The Situation With Tucker Carlson, premiered on MSNBC.

2005: Hosts Tucker on MSNBC

From 2005 to 2008, Tucker Carlson hosted the nightly program Tucker on MSNBC.

September 13, 2006: First contestant eliminated on Dancing with the Stars

On September 13, 2006, Tucker Carlson was the first contestant eliminated on season 3 of Dancing with the Stars, where he was paired with professional dancer Elena Grinenko.

2006: Uses slurs on air

Between 2006 and 2011, Tucker Carlson made remarks on race, immigration, and women – including slurs he said on air, leading to accusations of racism and sexism.

2006: Romney's health care reform

In 2006, Mitt Romney signed the health care reform in Massachusetts, which contained an individual mandate.

2006: Carlson uses homophobic language

In 2006, Tucker Carlson and Bubba the Love Sponge used the word "faggot" to describe their affection for each other during a radio conversation.

2006: Hosts Winter Olympics Wrap-Up

In 2006, Tucker Carlson hosted a late-afternoon weekday wrap-up for MSNBC during the Winter Olympics.

2006: Carlson makes racist comments

In 2006, Tucker Carlson made racist comments, including describing Iraq as a country of "semi-literate primitive monkeys" and "lunatic Muslims who are behaving like animals". These comments were later released in 2019.

2006: Registered as a Democrat

In 2006, Tucker Carlson registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C. This registration lasted until 2020.

2006: Coverage of the 2006 Lebanon War

In 2006, Tucker Carlson reported live from Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War. He criticized Syria's involvement and expressed some support for the Israel Defense Forces, while also criticizing their tactics.

2006: Stops Wearing Bow Ties

In 2006, Tucker Carlson stopped wearing bow ties on air, a habit he had maintained since boarding school.

2006: Carlson uses offensive language to describe women

In 2006, Tucker Carlson used the words "pig" and "cunt" to describe several individual women in remarks on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.

2007: Ezra Klein Launched JournoList

In 2007, Ezra Klein launched JournoList, an invitation-only liberal forum.

2007: Carlson describes beating up a gay man

In 2007, Tucker Carlson described an incident during high school of beating up a gay man who had made an advance on him in a public bathroom.

2007: Reports on Shootings

In 2007, Tucker Carlson reported the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shooting and Johnson Space Center shooting.

2007: Obama Video Recorded

In 2007, a video recording of then-Senator Barack Obama criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and complimenting Reverend Jeremiah Wright was recorded.

March 10, 2008: Tucker Canceled by MSNBC

On March 10, 2008, Tucker was canceled by MSNBC due to low ratings.

March 14, 2008: Final Episode of Tucker Airs

On March 14, 2008, the final episode of Tucker aired on MSNBC.

2008: Wright's Sermons Controversy

In 2008, Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sermons were a controversy in Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

2008: Leaves Tucker on MSNBC

In 2008, Tucker Carlson ended his role as host of Tucker on MSNBC.

2008: Cameo appearance in Swing Vote

In 2008, Tucker Carlson had a cameo appearance as himself in the film Swing Vote.

2008: Supported Ron Paul's candidacy again

In 2008, Tucker Carlson supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy when Paul ran as a Republican.

2008: Potential Libertarian nomination and spoke at Ron Paul's convention

In 2008, Tucker Carlson was floated as a potential candidate for the Libertarian nomination. Carlson spoke at Ron Paul's independent Rally for the Republic convention.

May 2009: Hired as Fox News Contributor

In May 2009, Fox News announced that Tucker Carlson was hired as a Fox News contributor.

2009: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute

From 2009 through 2015, Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

2009: Joins Fox News

In 2009, Tucker Carlson became a political analyst for Fox News, appearing on various programs before launching his own show.

2009: Decrease in Mexicans Living in the US

In 2009, the number of Mexicans in the U.S. had decreased.

January 11, 2010: The Daily Caller Launched

On January 11, 2010, Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel launched The Daily Caller, a political news website, with Carlson serving 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: Denied Access to JournoList

On May 25, 2010, Tucker Carlson was denied access to 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, leading to controversies and resignations.

September 2010: Hosts Fighting for Our Children's Minds Special

In September 2010, Tucker Carlson produced and hosted a special entitled Fighting for Our Children's Minds on Fox News.

2010: Commented on Michael Vick

After saying on Fox News in 2010 that Michael Vick "should have been executed" for dog fighting, Carlson stated that he is "not comfortable with the death penalty under any circumstances".

2010: Co-founds The Daily Caller

In 2010, Tucker Carlson co-founded The Daily Caller, a right-wing news and opinion website, and served as its initial editor-in-chief.

2011: Uses slurs on air

Between 2006 and 2011, Tucker Carlson made remarks on race, immigration, and women – including slurs he said on air, leading to accusations of racism and sexism.

2011: Death of Lisa McNear

In 2011, Lisa McNear (née Lombardi), Tucker Carlson's mother, died.

2011: Carlson uses offensive language to describe women

In 2011, Tucker Carlson used the words "pig" and "cunt" to describe several individual women in remarks on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.

2011: Protestors gathered outside Carlson's house

In 2011, a group of protestors 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" co-authored by Tucker Carlson, purporting to be an insiders' exposé of Media Matters for America.

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's Nomination

In 2012, Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee for president.

2012: Expressed Disappointment in Mitt Romney

In 2012, Tucker Carlson expressed his disappointment with the Republican nominee for the election, Mitt Romney.

April 2013: Joins Fox & Friends Weekend

In April 2013, Tucker Carlson replaced Dave Briggs as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.

2013: Carlson expressed discontent with the Episcopal Church

In 2013, Tucker Carlson publicly stated that he "despise[d] the Episcopal Church in a lot of ways," citing the church's support for same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Despite his opposition, he mentioned continuing to attend services due to his appreciation for the liturgy and the people.

2015: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute

From 2009 through 2015, Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

2015: Australian gun laws "insane"

In 2015, Tucker Carlson said Australian gun laws were "insane" and "childish".

January 2016: Supported Donald Trump's candidacy

In January 2016, Tucker Carlson expressed his support for Donald Trump's candidacy, praising Trump's positions such as his proposed "Muslim ban".

March 2016: Criticism of Mitt Romney's Denunciation of Trump

In March 2016, Tucker Carlson criticized Mitt Romney for denouncing Trump's response to questions about David Duke's support, 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, which became the network's most-watched telecast of the year in its time slot.

2016: Trump Campaign Purchases Subscriber List

In 2016, Donald Trump's presidential campaign purchased The Daily Caller's subscriber list for $150,000.

2016: Tucker Carlson Tonight Launched

In 2016, Tucker Carlson began hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, a nightly political talk show.

January 9, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Moves to 9:00 PM

On January 9, 2017, Tucker Carlson's show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, replaced Megyn Kelly at the 9:00 p.m. time slot on Fox News after she left the network.

January 2017: High Ratings for Tucker Carlson Tonight

In January 2017, Forbes reported that Tucker Carlson Tonight had consistently high ratings, averaging 2.8 million viewers per night.

March 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight is Most Watched Program

In March 2017, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the most watched cable program in the 9:00 p.m. time slot.

April 19, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight Airs at 8:00 PM

On April 19, 2017, Fox News announced that Tucker Carlson Tonight would air at 8:00 p.m. following the cancellation of The O'Reilly Factor.

May 2017: Signed two-book deal with Simon & Schuster

In May 2017, Tucker Carlson signed an eight-figure, two-book deal with Simon & Schuster's Threshold Editions, represented by Javelin. This deal marked a significant achievement in his writing career.

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 subscriber list, leading to conflict of interest allegations against Tucker Carlson.

July 2017: Claim About Domestic Threat from Iran

In July 2017, Tucker Carlson stated that "we actually don't face any domestic threat from Iran."

2017: Reason for Democratic Registration

In 2017, Carlson explained his Democratic registration as a means to vote in mayoral primaries, stating he voted for corrupt candidates to hinder progressivism.

2017: NY Times on Stewart's Impact

In 2017, The New York Times referred to Jon Stewart's 'on-air dressing-down' of Carlson as an 'ignominious career [moment]' for Carlson, suggesting it led to the show's cancellation.

2017: Carlson sold his home and purchased another nearby

In 2017, Tucker Carlson sold his home in Kent, Washington, D.C., and purchased another nearby.

2017: Rejection of White Supremacy

In 2017, Tucker Carlson stated that he does not approve of white supremacy.

March 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight is third-highest rated

As of March 2018, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the third-highest-rated cable news show.

March 2018: Criticized Trump for supporting gun control

In March 2018, Tucker Carlson criticized Donald Trump for comments supporting gun control after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

April 2018: Questioning Assad's Responsibility in Douma Chemical Attack

In April 2018, Tucker Carlson questioned whether Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the Douma chemical attack, which resulted in dozens of deaths.

July 2018: Claim About Mexican Interference in U.S. Elections

In July 2018, Tucker Carlson claimed that Mexico had interfered in U.S. elections "more successfully" than Russia by "packing our electorate" through mass immigration.

August 2018: Carlson alleges South African government targets white farmers

In August 2018, Tucker Carlson alleged that the South African government was targeting white farmers and falsely said the country's president had changed the constitution to allow land thefts from whites. This was widely described as false or misleading by news organizations.

October 2018: Second-Highest Rated Cable News 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: Ship of Fools released

In October 2018, Tucker Carlson released Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution. It 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." activist group protested outside Tucker Carlson's home in Washington, D.C., and his driveway was vandalized.

2018: Extortion Accusation

In 2018, Tucker Carlson accused Karen McDougal of extorting Donald Trump on his show.

2018: Criticism of China's Treatment of Muslims

In 2018, Tucker Carlson criticized China's treatment of Muslims.

2018: Denial of Being a Racist

In 2018, Tucker Carlson denied being a racist, stating, "I'm not a racist. I hate racism."

2018: Carlson describes mass immigration's effects

In 2018, Tucker Carlson described the effects of mass immigration on the United States as making it "dirtier, poorer, and more divided" and said it "has badly hurt this country's natural landscape." He also criticized multiculturalism.

2018: Carlson's book "Ship of Fools" released

In 2018, Tucker Carlson released his book "Ship of Fools", with the title inspired by the Grateful Dead song of the same name.

2018: Publishes Ship of Fools

In 2018, Tucker Carlson released his book "Ship of Fools".

2018: Adopted Buchanan's views

In his 2018 book, Ship of Fools, Carlson wrote that he had adopted some of Pat Buchanan's views.

2018: Protestors gathered in front of Carlson's home

In late 2018, protestors gathered in front of Tucker Carlson's home.

2018: Promoted populist economics

Since 2018, Tucker Carlson has promoted more populist economics, attacking libertarianism, and saying "market capitalism is not a religion".

January 2019: Show Viewership Drops

By January 2019, Tucker Carlson's show dropped to third place with 2.8 million nightly viewers, a decrease of six percent from the previous year, and lost at least 26 advertisers.

January 2019: Criticized "mainstream Republican" worldview

In January 2019, Carlson used a Washington Post op-ed by Romney to criticize what he described as the "mainstream Republican" worldview.

March 2019: Calls to Fire Carlson

In March 2019, there were calls to fire Tucker Carlson from Fox News after Media Matters resurfaced controversial remarks he had made to the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.

May 2019: Carlson blames illegal workers for societal problems

In May 2019, Tucker Carlson claimed 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."

May 2019: Defense of Trump's Tariffs on Mexico

In May 2019, Tucker Carlson defended Donald Trump's decision to place tariffs on Mexico unless Mexico stopped illegal immigration to the United States, stating, "When the United States is attacked by a hostile foreign power it must strike back, and make no mistake Mexico is a hostile foreign power."

June 2019: Influence on Trump Regarding Military Strikes Against Iran

In June 2019, Tucker Carlson reportedly played an influential role in dissuading Trump from launching military strikes against Iran after the shooting down of an American drone.

June 2019: Defense of Trump's Friendship with Kim Jong-un

In June 2019, Tucker Carlson, who was touring with President Trump, defended Trump's friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, stating that leading a country "means killing people".

July 9, 2019: Carlson criticizes Ilhan Omar in monologue

On July 9, 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized Representative Ilhan Omar, accusing her of being ungrateful to the United States and calling her "living proof that the way we practice immigration has become dangerous to this country". The monologue was described as racially loaded.

August 2019: Media Buy Contracts Fulfilled

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: Lobbying for John Bolton's Firing

On September 10, 2019, John Bolton was fired from his position. Prior to this Tucker Carlson lobbied Donald Trump to fire his national security advisor, John Bolton. Carlson criticized Bolton for seeking a military strike against Iran.

November 2019: Repeating Claims about Douma Chemical Attack

In November 2019, Tucker Carlson repeated his claims about the Douma chemical attack and queried whether the attack had happened at all.

December 2019: Karen McDougal Sues Fox News

In December 2019, Playboy model Karen McDougal sued Fox News after Tucker Carlson accused her of extorting Donald Trump in a 2018 episode of his show.

December 2019: Carlson falsely claims immigrants pollute Potomac River

In December 2019, Tucker Carlson falsely claimed that immigrants were responsible for making the Potomac River "dirtier and dirtier."

2019: Media Matters releases recordings of racist comments

In 2019, Media Matters for America released recordings of racist comments Tucker Carlson made in 2006. These comments included his belief that Iraq was not worth invading because it was made up of "semi-literate primitive monkeys" and "lunatic Muslims who are behaving like animals".

2019: Called a "Middle American radical"

In 2019, Park MacDougald writing for New York magazine's Intelligencer called Tucker Carlson a "Middle American radical," defining him as someone who holds populist economic beliefs.

2019: Criticism of LeBron James

In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized LeBron James for speaking out against Daryl Morey, who had tweeted in support of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.

2019: Criticism of Hedge Funds and Private Equity

In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized hedge funds, specifically calling out Republican donor Paul Singer, and also private equity firms, using Mitt Romney's Bain Capital as an example. He described the business model as exploitative and praised Elizabeth Warren's economic plan and her book "The Two Income Trap."

2019: Influenced Trump's Decisions

In 2019, Tucker Carlson influenced some of Donald Trump's decisions as president, including the cancellation of a military strike against Iran and the dismissal of John Bolton as National Security Advisor.

2019: Accusations of endorsing Great Replacement conspiracy theory

In 2019, Tucker Carlson was accused of endorsing the Great Replacement conspiracy theory by commentators and organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for accusing Democrats of supporting increased immigration to change the racial demographics of the United States.

2019: Statement About Rooting for Russia

In 2019, during a discussion about U.S. military aid to Ukraine during the Donbas War, Tucker Carlson stated on his show, "Why shouldn't I root for Russia? Which I am". He later claimed it was a joke and suggested siding with Russia over Ukraine.

2019: Owns 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: Criticized assassination of Qasem Soleimani

In January 2020, Tucker Carlson criticized the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, which was ordered by Donald Trump.

May 2020: Carlson questions 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 brought on by the pandemic.

June 2020: Said Trump let Black Lives Matter protests go too far

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: Head Writer Resigns

In July 2020, Tucker Carlson's head writer Blake Neff resigned after reports of racist, sexist, and homophobic posts he made under a pseudonym surfaced, leading to renewed scrutiny of Carlson's program.

August 2020: Defended Kyle Rittenhouse

In August 2020, Tucker Carlson aired segments defending Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

September 2020: Lawsuit Dismissed

In September 2020, a federal judge dismissed Karen McDougal's lawsuit against Fox News, citing that Carlson's extortion claims were opinion-based and not "statements of fact".

October 2020: Highest 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: Promotion of COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory

On November 20, 2020, it was reported that Steve Bannon and Guo Wengui had brought Li-Meng Yan to America to promote the COVID-19 lab leak theory. Yan made appearances on Tucker Carlson's show to promote the theory.

2020: 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: Reportedly voted for Kanye West

Following the 2020 election, Carlson reportedly told people he had voted for independent candidate Kanye West.

2020: Criticism of Soleimani Assassination

In 2020, Tucker Carlson criticized the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, calling it a "quagmire."

2020: Influenced Trump's Decisions

In 2020, Tucker Carlson influenced some of Donald Trump's decisions as president, including the commutation of Roger Stone's prison sentence.

2020: Carlson privately doubts election fraud claims

In 2020, Tucker Carlson privately doubted the false claims that the election was stolen and mocked Trump advisors, including Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. He also wanted Jacqui Heinrich fired for fact-checking claims about Dominion.

2020: Labeling Bob Iger as a "Propagandist"

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 sold his home in Kent and bought a house in Florida

In 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his home in Kent, Washington, D.C., and bought a house on Gasparilla Island, on Florida's Gulf Coast.

2020: Leaves The Daily Caller

In 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his ownership stake in The Daily Caller and left the website.

2020: No longer registered as a Democrat

In 2020, Tucker Carlson was no longer registered as a Democrat, having been registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C., from 2006 to 2020.

2020: Carlson raises false allegations of fraud in the election

In 2020, after Joe Biden won the election, Tucker Carlson raised false allegations of fraud. He also distanced himself from Trump's post-election legal fights, acknowledging that they would not produce a Trump victory.

2020: Response to Head Writer's Firing

In 2020, after his head writer, was fired for hateful blog posts, Tucker Carlson said of the posts, "They have no connection to the show. It is wrong to attack people for qualities they cannot control."

January 26, 2021: Carlson brings on Mike Lindell to criticize Dominion Voting Systems

On January 26, 2021, Tucker Carlson brought on Mike Lindell to criticize Dominion Voting Systems and claim it had "hired hit groups and bots and trolls" to target him following his Twitter account's permanent suspension for promoting unfounded fraud claims.

February 2021: 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 on Fox Nation.

March 2021: Comments on Latin American Immigration Crisis and Spanish Colonial Legacy

In March 2021, Tucker Carlson blamed the Latin American immigration crisis on "other colonial powers centuries ago", particularly Spain, suggesting Spain should "send back the gold now sitting in its central bank."

March 2021: Carlson ridiculed maternity flight suits

In March 2021, Tucker Carlson was rebuked by the U.S. military after he ridiculed maternity flight suits for U.S. women soldiers and described a decision by the Chinese military to build ships as "more masculine".

June 21, 2021: Reported as Media Source

On June 21, 2021, a New York Times report indicated that Tucker Carlson was a media source for journalists and authors who wrote critically of Donald Trump.

July 2021: Carlson suggests voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia

In July 2021, Tucker Carlson suggested that "there actually was meaningful voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia, last November" despite the state's election results being validated via both hand and machine recounts. PolitiFact found that none of the evidence provided by Carlson substantiated his conclusion.

July 2021: Republican Party "inept and bad at governing"

In July 2021, Tucker Carlson told Time magazine that the Republican Party is "inept and bad at governing".

August 2021: The Long Slide released

In August 2021, Tucker Carlson released his second book, The Long Slide: Thirty Years in American Journalism, continuing his career as an author.

August 2021: Trip to Hungary and Praise for Viktor Orbán

In August 2021, Tucker Carlson traveled to Hungary, broadcasting from Budapest. He praised the country and its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, for their policies on asylum seekers, and dismissed claims that Orbán was authoritarian.

December 2021: Carlson comments on labor participation rate of U.S. men

In December 2021, Tucker Carlson commented on the falling labor participation rate of U.S. men, stating, "Men and women are very different, extremely different. Society is built on their differences."

2021: Time magazine: Most powerful conservative

In 2021, Time magazine described Tucker Carlson as "may be the most powerful conservative in America", reflecting his influence in American politics.

2021: Maintained Cable Lead

In 2021, Tucker Carlson Tonight remained the most-watched news-related cable show.

2021: Carlson belittles Pete Buttigieg's paternity leave

In 2021, Tucker Carlson belittled the paternity leave taken by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, joking that Buttigieg could be "trying to figure out how to breastfeed".

2021: Promotion of 'Great Replacement' Conspiracy Theory

In 2021, Tucker Carlson described the "demographic replacement" conspiracy theory as "the Great Replacement", using white nationalist terminology.

2021: Publishes The Long Slide

In 2021, Tucker Carlson released his book "The Long Slide".

January 2022: Release of 'Hungary vs. Soros' on Fox Nation

In January 2022, Tucker Carlson released the film "Hungary vs. Soros" on Fox Nation, which promoted conspiracy theories about George Soros and was described as "anti-American propaganda" by the Open Society Foundations.

February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, leading to Vladimir Putin's isolation from Western media. This event contextualizes Tucker Carlson's interview with Putin in February 2024 as Putin's first with a Western journalist since the invasion.

February 2022: Carlson supports 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".

February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred, preceding Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin in February 2024.

April 2022: The New York Times published "American Nationalist" on Carlson

In April 2022, The New York Times released a three-part investigative series, "American Nationalist," scrutinizing Carlson's rise and rhetoric on immigration, race relations, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The report characterized Tucker Carlson Tonight as potentially "the most racist show in the history of cable news." Carlson dismissed the report and its allegations.

May 2022: Close Second in Viewership

Through May 2022, Tucker Carlson Tonight was a close second to The Five in viewership, while leading in the 25–54 demographic.

August 2022: Carlson deposed in Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit

In August 2022, Tucker Carlson was deposed as part of a lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News over false claims of voter fraud made about the company.

September 2022: Carlson spoke at Sonny Barger's funeral

In September 2022, Tucker Carlson spoke at the funeral of Hells Angels president Sonny Barger. He expressed his admiration for Barger and quoted him, emphasizing the importance of loyalty, freedom, and honor.

September 2022: Comments on the British Empire After Queen Elizabeth II's Death

In September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Tucker Carlson stated that the British Empire had brought civilization to regions it occupied with "decency unmatched by any empire in human history", a comment that drew criticism.

October 11, 2022: Vice publishes leaked unaired footage from Ye interview

On October 11, 2022, Vice's Motherboard published leaked unaired footage from Tucker Carlson's interview with Ye. In the unaired footage, West expressed Black Hebrew Israelite views, stated he had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and made claims about paid child actors. The footage was scrutinized after West made antisemitic statements on social media.

October 2022: Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight

In October 2022, Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight the night she left the Democratic Party, to Carlson's praise.

November 2022: LGBTQ controversies scrutinized after Colorado Springs shooting

In November 2022, Tucker Carlson's promotion of inflammatory rhetoric about LGBTQ controversies was scrutinized after the Colorado Springs nightclub mass shooting.

2022: Carlson airs interview with Ye

In 2022, Tucker Carlson aired an edited interview with Ye, where West discussed wearing a "White Lives Matter" shirt and his pro-life stance.

2022: Carlson questions Great Replacement conspiracy theory

In 2022, Tucker Carlson contradicted his previous endorsement of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory by questioning its popularity after it was invoked by multiple white supremacist mass shooters, including the 2019 El Paso shooting and the 2022 Buffalo shooting, and calling its existence a "hoax".

2022: Carlson releases The End of Men

In 2022, Tucker Carlson released "The End of Men", alleging a decline in American masculinity. The episode featured Raw Egg Nationalist, affiliated with Neo-Nazi publishing house Antelope Hill.

2022: Defense of Vladimir Putin

In 2022, Tucker Carlson was noted for defending Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Response to Criticism of Race

In 2022, in response to a New York Times report, Tucker Carlson stated that his show followed Martin Luther King Jr.'s ideals and that all people should be judged by their actions, not their appearance.

2022: Downplaying Russia's Military Buildup

In early 2022, Tucker Carlson downplayed Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders. Despite calling the invasion "awful", he promoted pro-Russian disinformation, including a conspiracy theory about U.S. biological weapons development in Ukraine. Russian state media used Carlson's broadcasts to support their messaging.

2022: Carlson bought a second home in Florida

In the summer of 2022, Tucker Carlson bought a second home next door to his house on Gasparilla Island, on Florida's Gulf Coast.

March 2023: Defended Trump after indictment

In March 2023, Tucker Carlson defended Donald Trump after he was indicted in New York, calling the indictment "election interference".

March 2023: Carlson discusses leaked texts and feelings about Trump

In March 2023, Tucker Carlson said he was "enraged that my private texts were pulled" for the Dominion court case, and asserted: "I love Trump … I think Trump is funny and insightful."

April 2023: Fired from Fox News

In April 2023, Fox News dismissed Tucker Carlson and canceled his show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. This decision was made by Lachlan Murdoch. The show had been one of the most-watched cable news programs in the country.

April 24, 2023: Dismissed from Fox News

On April 24, 2023, Fox News dismissed Tucker Carlson and the executive producer of his evening show.

May 9, 2023: Announces Show Relaunch on Twitter

On May 9, 2023, Tucker Carlson announced he would relaunch his show on Twitter.

June 6, 2023: Tucker on Twitter Released

On June 6, 2023, the first episode of Tucker on Twitter was released, featuring controversial claims.

June 2023: Seeking funds for a new media company

In June 2023, Tucker Carlson was reportedly seeking funds to start a new media company with Neil Patel. This marks a potential shift in his career and media presence.

August 23, 2023: Hosted Donald Trump on Tucker on X

On August 23, 2023, Tucker Carlson hosted Donald Trump on Tucker on X, formerly Twitter. This interview was deliberately scheduled to coincide with the first 2024 Republican debate, drawing attention away from the debate.

September 6, 2023: Interviewed Larry Sinclair on Tucker on X

On September 6, 2023, Tucker Carlson interviewed Larry Sinclair, who made controversial claims about Barack Obama, on Tucker on X. This interview drew criticism from many, including Elon Musk.

September 2023: Carlson interviews man who claims to have had sex with Barack Obama

In September 2023, Tucker Carlson interviewed a man who claimed to have had sex with Barack Obama.

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: Appearance with Santiago Abascal and Support for Spanish Protests

In November 2023, after Carlson appeared with Santiago Abascal in support of the 2023 Spanish protests, a rebuttal article in La Gaceta was retracted.

2023: Carlson criticizes Episcopalianism

In 2023, Tucker Carlson harshly criticized Episcopalianism again, calling it "the shallowest faith tradition that’s ever been invented" and arguing that "It’s not even a Christian religion at this point".

2023: Criticism of Wind Power

In 2023, Tucker Carlson joined Clean Ocean Action and multiple Republicans in criticizing the use of wind power in New Jersey and New York. They falsely claimed it was contributing to whale deaths.

2023: Tucker Carlson Tonight Ends

In 2023, Tucker Carlson's contract with Fox News was terminated, ending his nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight.

2023: Biography Tucker released

In 2023, a biography of Carlson titled Tucker was released. It was written by Chadwick Moore and aimed to tell the story of Carlson's exit from Fox News from his perspective. The book did not sell well.

February 2024: Interviews Vladimir Putin

In February 2024, Tucker Carlson became the first Western journalist to interview Vladimir Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

February 2024: Interviewed Vladimir Putin

In February 2024, Tucker Carlson traveled to Russia to interview President Vladimir Putin. This was Putin's first one-on-one interview with a Western journalist since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, sparking backlash from other journalists.

May 2024: Launched The Tucker Carlson Show podcast

In May 2024, Tucker Carlson launched a weekly commentary podcast called The Tucker Carlson Show, marking a new phase in his media career.

July 2024: The Tucker Carlson Show became #1 on Spotify

By July 2024, The Tucker Carlson Show became the #1 most popular podcast on Spotify, signaling a resurgence in Carlson's popularity.

September 2, 2024: Hosted Darryl Cooper on Tucker on X

On September 2, 2024, Tucker Carlson hosted Darryl Cooper, who endorsed Holocaust denial, on Tucker on X. This broadcast sparked significant controversy.

2024: Attributed hurricane increase to abortion

In 2024, Carlson dismissed the link between climate change and increased hurricanes, attributing it instead to abortion.

2024: Republican Debate Conflict

In 2024, Carlson hosted Donald Trump on 'Tucker on X' deliberately to conflict with the first 2024 Republican debate.

2024: Carlson claims he was attacked by a demon

In 2024, Tucker Carlson shared that he believes that he was mauled by a demon while he was in bed and that the attack left him bleeding.

History of Tucker Carlson in Timeline

1941: Dick Carlson Born

1945: Birth of Lisa McNear (Lombardi)

1955: Swanson Brand Sold

May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson Born

May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson Born

1972: Richard Nixon's Visit to China

1976: Parents' Divorce

1979: Father's Marriage to Patricia Swanson

1984: Father's Mayoral Challenge

1988: Supported Ron Paul's candidacy

August 10, 1991: Carlson married Susan Thomson Andrews

1991: Graduates from Trinity College

1995: Joins The Weekly Standard

November 29, 1999: Carlson's low opinion of Donald Trump

1999: Interviews George W. Bush

2000: Capital punishment debate

2000: Becomes CNN Commentator

2000: Co-hosts The Spin Room

2000: Bush presidential campaign

2000: Voted for George W. Bush

October 17, 2001: Plane Crash in Dubai

2001: Co-hosts Crossfire

2001: Appointed Co-host of Crossfire

2002: Carlson quit drinking alcohol

September 2003: Published Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites

November 2003: Hired by PBS

2003: Suspicions of being "secretly liberal"

2003: Interview with Britney Spears

2003: Public Support for Iraq Invasion

2003: Publishes Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites

2003: Opposed to death penalty and abortion

2003: Esquire Profile Nomination

June 18, 2004: Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered Launches

October 2004: Jon Stewart on Crossfire

2004: Britney Spears in Fahrenheit 9/11

2004: Hated Nanny-State Regulations

2004: Renounces Support for Iraq War

2004: Criticism of the Iraq War

2004: Resigned from Crossfire

2004: Did not vote in election

January 5, 2005: CNN Ends Carlson's Contract

June 12, 2005: Leaves Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered

June 13, 2005: Tucker Premieres on MSNBC

2005: Hosts Tucker on MSNBC

September 13, 2006: First contestant eliminated on Dancing with the Stars

2006: Uses slurs on air

2006: Romney's health care reform

2006: Carlson uses homophobic language

2006: Hosts Winter Olympics Wrap-Up

2006: Carlson makes racist comments

2006: Registered as a Democrat

2006: Coverage of the 2006 Lebanon War

2006: Stops Wearing Bow Ties

2006: Carlson uses offensive language to describe women

2007: Ezra Klein Launched JournoList

2007: Carlson describes beating up a gay man

2007: Reports on Shootings

2007: Obama Video Recorded

March 10, 2008: Tucker Canceled by MSNBC

March 14, 2008: Final Episode of Tucker Airs

2008: Wright's Sermons Controversy

2008: Leaves Tucker on MSNBC

2008: Cameo appearance in Swing Vote

2008: Supported Ron Paul's candidacy again

2008: Potential Libertarian nomination and spoke at Ron Paul's convention

May 2009: Hired as Fox News Contributor

2009: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute

2009: Joins Fox News

2009: Decrease in Mexicans Living in the US

January 11, 2010: The Daily Caller Launched

February 2010: The Daily Caller Joins White House Press Pool

May 25, 2010: Denied Access to JournoList

June 2010: The Daily Caller publishes JournoList excerpts

September 2010: Hosts Fighting for Our Children's Minds Special

2010: Commented on Michael Vick

2010: Co-founds The Daily Caller

2011: Uses slurs on air

2011: Death of Lisa McNear

2011: Carlson uses offensive language to describe women