Early Life and Education of Tucker Carlson: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Tucker Carlson, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Tucker Carlson is an American right-wing political activist and commentator. He hosts Tucker on X and The Tucker Carlson Show since 2023. Prior to that, he hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News from 2016 to 2023. A strong advocate for Donald Trump, Carlson is considered a leading proponent of Trumpism and wields considerable influence within right-wing media.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

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 Sold to Campbell Soup Company

In 1955, the Swanson brand was sold to the Campbell Soup Company.

May 16, 1969: Tucker Carlson Born

On May 16, 1969, Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson was born in San Francisco, California.

1976: Carlson's Parents Divorced

In 1976, Tucker Carlson's parents divorced after a nine-year marriage, with his father gaining custody of Tucker and his brother. His mother moved to France and the boys never saw her again.

1979: Father Marries Patricia Caroline 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 Race

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

1988: Support for 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 Marries 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 school's headmaster and priest.

November 29, 1999: Carlson's 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".

2000: Bush's Presidential Campaign

In 2000, George W. Bush claimed that "Mr. Carlson misread, mischaracterized me. He's a good reporter, he just misunderstood about how serious that was. I take the death penalty very seriously."

2000: Voting for George W. Bush

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

2000: Views on capital punishment

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

October 17, 2001: Plane Crash in Dubai

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

2002: Carlson Quits Drinking Alcohol

In 2002, Tucker Carlson quit drinking alcohol.

2003: Remarks on Washington Conservatives

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

2003: Opposition to the death penalty

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

2004: Renounces Support for the Iraq War

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

2004: Opposition to nanny-state regulations

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

2004: Not voting in 2004 election

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

September 13, 2006: 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.

2006: Health care reform signed by Romney

In 2006, Mitt Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, signed a health care reform that contained an individual mandate, which Carlson found fault with.

2006: Registered as a Democrat

In 2006, Tucker Carlson registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C.

2006: Stops Wearing Bow Ties on Air

Until 2006, Tucker Carlson wore bow ties on air, a habit from boarding school.

2008: Support for Ron Paul's candidacy as a Republican

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

2010: Co-founds The Daily Caller

In 2010, Tucker Carlson co-founded the right-wing news and opinion website The Daily Caller.

2010: Comments on Michael Vick

In 2010, after saying on Fox News that 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: Protest Outside Carlson's House in Kent, Washington, D.C.

In 2011, a group of protesters gathered outside Tucker Carlson's house in Kent, Washington, D.C., to protest Carlson.

2012: Disappointment with Mitt Romney

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

2013: Carlson Expresses Dislike for the Episcopal Church

In 2013, Tucker Carlson said, "We still go to the Episcopal Church for all kinds of complicated reasons, but I truly despise the Episcopal Church in a lot of ways," citing his opposition to the church's support for same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

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, such as his proposed "Muslim ban".

2017: Carlson's reason to register as Democrat

In 2017, Tucker Carlson said his registration as a Democrat was to gain the right to vote in the primaries for mayoral elections in the district. He "sincerely despise[s]" the Democratic Party and "always vote[d] for the more corrupt candidate over the idealist".

2017: Carlson Sells Home and Purchases Another Nearby

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

March 2018: Criticism of Trump on gun control

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

November 2018: Protest outside Carlson's home

In November 2018, the "Smash Racism D.C." group protested outside Tucker Carlson's home in Washington, D.C., and vandalized his driveway. Carlson alleged damage to his front door, but police and a Washington Post columnist observed no such damage.

2018: Adoption of Buchanan's Views

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

2018: Protest in Front of Carlson's Home

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

2019: Ownership of an AR-15

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 Trump.

June 2020: Criticism of Trump's response to Black Lives Matter protests

In June 2020, Tucker Carlson said Donald Trump had let Black Lives Matter protests go too far.

2020: Reported vote for Kanye West

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

2020: Carlson Sells Kent Home and Buys House on Gasparilla Island

In 2020, Carlson sold his home in Kent 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 and left The Daily Caller.

2020: Party affiliation as Democrat

Tucker Carlson was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C., from 2006 to 2020.

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".

February 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, Vladimir Putin launched the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This event was referenced as the point since when he had not been interviewed by a Western journalist until Tucker Carlson interviewed him in 2024.

September 2022: Carlson Speaks at Sonny Barger's Funeral

In September 2022, Tucker Carlson spoke at the funeral of Hells Angels president Sonny Barger, praising Barger and his values.

2022: Carlson Buys Second Home on Gasparilla Island

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

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".

2023: Starts Tucker on X and The Tucker Carlson Show

In 2023, Tucker Carlson started hosting Tucker on X and The Tucker Carlson Show after his contract with Fox News was terminated.

August 1, 2024: Release of American journalists in Russia

On August 1, 2024, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan were released as part of a prisoner exchange. Tucker Carlson raised the issue of the imprisonment of Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva during his interview with Vladimir Putin.

2024: Carlson Claims Demon Attack and Nuclear Technology Origins

In 2024, Tucker Carlson shared with a documentary producer that he believes that he was mauled by a demon while he was in bed, leaving him bleeding. A few days later he claimed that nuclear technology was created by demons.

2024: Carlson Considers a Presidential Run in 2028

In 2024, Tucker Carlson stated on his podcast that he would consider running for president in 2028, while also admitting he may not be very good at it.

2028: Speculation about Carlson's Presidential Run

Speculation arose regarding Tucker Carlson potentially running for President of the United States in 2024 and 2028, but Carlson conceded in 2024 that he might not be well-suited for the role.