History of Tucker Carlson in Timeline
Tucker Carlson is an American conservative political commentator, best known for hosting Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News from 2016 to 2023. After his departure from Fox News, he launched shows on X and his own platform. A strong supporter of Donald Trump, Carlson has become a prominent voice in right-wing media, advocating for Trumpism and often associated with white grievance politics. He has been recognized as a highly influential figure in conservative media.
1941: Dick Carlson was born
In 1941, Dick Carlson, Tucker Carlson's father, was born.
1945: Lisa McNear (née Lombardi) was born
In 1945, Lisa McNear (née Lombardi), Tucker Carlson's mother, was born.
1955: Sale of the Swanson Brand
In 1955, the Swansons sold the Swanson 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: Nixon's Visit to China
In 1972, President Richard Nixon's visit to China occured.
1976: Carlson's Parents Divorced
In 1976, Tucker Carlson's parents divorced.
1979: Father's Marriage to Patricia Swanson
In 1979, Tucker Carlson's father married Patricia Caroline Swanson, an heiress to Swanson Enterprises.
1984: Father's Mayoral Campaign
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 Presidential 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's marriage to Susan Thomson Andrews
On August 10, 1991, Tucker Carlson married Susan Thomson Andrews at St. George's School chapel. They met at the school, where she was the headmaster's daughter. They have four children together.
1991: Graduation 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.
November 29, 1999: Carlson Criticizes Donald Trump
On November 29, 1999, in a public correspondence, Tucker Carlson agreed with Evan Smith's low 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, quoting Bush mocking Karla Faye Tucker.
2000: Bush campaign
In 2000, The piece about the interview with George W. Bush led to bad publicity for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
2000: Co-host of The Spin Room
In 2000, Tucker Carlson co-hosted the short-lived show The Spin Room on CNN.
2000: Carlson Wrote Capital Punishment Deserves More Debate
In 2000, Tucker Carlson wrote that capital punishment "deserves more vigorous debate".
2000: Carlson Voted 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, a prime-time news debate program on CNN.
2002: Carlson quits drinking alcohol
In 2002, Tucker Carlson quit drinking alcohol. A few years earlier, he quit smoking cigarettes and took up nicotine gum and pouches. He also is a fan of the rock band Grateful Dead.
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.
November 2003: Hired by PBS
In November 2003, Tucker Carlson was hired to helm a new program for PBS called Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
2003: Carlson Opposed to the Death Penalty
In 2003 Tucker Carlson told Salon that he is opposed to the death penalty as he is adamantly opposed to abortion.
2003: Support for Iraq Invasion
In 2003, Tucker Carlson publicly supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but has since expressed regret for this support.
2003: Carlson Said Bush Isn't Much of a Conservative
In 2003, Tucker Carlson told Salon that some Washington conservatives suspected he was secretly liberal because he liked John McCain. He added "by my criteria, Bush isn't much of a conservative".
2003: Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites
In 2003, Tucker Carlson wrote 'Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites'.
2003: Esquire Profile Nomination
In 2003, Tucker Carlson's Esquire profile on his journey to Liberia alongside Reverend Al Sharpton received a nomination at the National Magazine Awards.
2003: Britney Spears Interview
In 2003, Tucker Carlson's interview with Britney Spears, where she supported President Bush's decisions regarding the Iraq War, took place.
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's format and its impact on political discourse, singling out Tucker Carlson for criticism.
2004: Jon Stewart Confronts Tucker Carlson on Crossfire
In 2004, Jon Stewart confronted Tucker Carlson on Crossfire, marking a debate maneuver that Lyz Lenz of the Columbia Journalism Review paralleled with Carlson's interviewing style.
2004: Statement Against Nanny-State Regulations
In 2004, Tucker Carlson expressed his opposition to what he termed "nanny-state regulations," specifically citing seat belt laws and smoking bans as examples he disliked.
2004: Criticism of Bush and the Iraq War
In 2004, Tucker Carlson wrote a commentary in Esquire accusing Bush of weakness after the September 11 attacks and in the invasion of Iraq, criticizing the war.
2004: Fahrenheit 9/11
In 2004, Tucker Carlson's 2003 interview with Britney Spears was featured in the 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11.
2004: Resignation from Crossfire
Tucker Carlson resigned from Crossfire in April 2004, citing his dislike for the partisanship.
January 5, 2005: CNN Ends Contract
On January 5, 2005, CNN chief Jonathan Klein told Tucker Carlson the network had decided not to renew his contract and would soon cancel Crossfire.
June 12, 2005: Leaving Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered
On June 12, 2005, Tucker Carlson announced he was leaving Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered to focus on his new MSNBC show.
June 13, 2005: Premiere of Tucker on MSNBC
On June 13, 2005, Tucker's show, originally titled The Situation With Tucker Carlson, premiered on MSNBC.
2005: Host of Tucker on MSNBC
From 2005 to 2008, Tucker Carlson hosted the nightly program Tucker on MSNBC.
September 13, 2006: Tucker Carlson eliminated from Dancing with the Stars
On September 13, 2006, Tucker Carlson, partnered with Elena Grinenko, was the first contestant eliminated from season 3 of 'Dancing with the Stars'.
2006: Carlson Registered as a Democrat
From 2006 to 2020, Tucker Carlson was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C.
2006: Host of 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, including that Iraq was not worth invading because he believed it to be a country made up of "semi-literate primitive monkeys" and "lunatic Muslims who are behaving like animals".
2006: End of Bow Tie Habit
In 2006, Tucker Carlson stopped wearing bow ties on air, a habit he had maintained since boarding school.
2006: Use of Homophobic Language
In 2006, Tucker Carlson used the word faggot in a radio conversation.
2006: Mitt Romney's health care reform
In 2012, Carlson expressed disappointment with Romney's health care reform signed in 2006 as governor of Massachusetts.
2007: Launch of JournoList
In 2007, Ezra Klein launched JournoList, an invitation-only liberal forum consisting of several hundred journalists, academics and policy experts.
2007: Obama's video recording
In 2007, Senator Barack Obama made a video recording criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina.
2007: Description of High School Incident
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.
March 10, 2008: Tucker Carlson canceled by MSNBC
On March 10, 2008, Tucker Carlson was canceled by MSNBC due to low ratings. However, Carlson remained with the network as a senior campaign correspondent for the 2008 election.
March 14, 2008: Final episode of Tucker Carlson airs on MSNBC
On March 14, 2008, the final episode of Tucker Carlson's show aired on MSNBC after the network decided to cancel it. Carlson described being fired by MSNBC as leading to a professional meltdown.
2008: Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, Barack Obama ran a presidential campaign.
2008: Swing Vote Cameo
In 2008, Tucker Carlson made a cameo appearance as himself in the film 'Swing Vote'.
2008: Support for Ron Paul's Presidential Candidacy as Republican
In 2008, Tucker Carlson supported Ron Paul's presidential candidacy when Paul ran as a Republican.
2008: Carlson Flouted as Libertarian Nomination Candidate
In 2008, Tucker Carlson was reportedly floated as a potential candidate for the Libertarian nomination in the presidential election.
2009: Political Analyst for Fox News
In 2009, Tucker Carlson became a political analyst for Fox News.
2009: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute
In 2009, Tucker Carlson became a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
2009: Decrease in number of Mexicans in the U.S.
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 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: Tucker Carlson denied access 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, leading to controversies and resignations.
September 2010: Carlson hosts special Fighting for Our Children's Minds
In September 2010, Tucker Carlson produced and hosted a special on Fox News entitled 'Fighting for Our Children's Minds'.
2010: Carlson Made Controversial Statement About Michael Vick
After saying on Fox News in 2010 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".
2010: Co-founder of The Daily Caller
In 2010, Tucker Carlson co-founded the right-wing news and opinion website The Daily Caller and served as its initial editor-in-chief.
2011: Lisa McNear's Death
In 2011, Lisa McNear (née Lombardi), Tucker Carlson's mother, died.
2011: Use of Offensive Language
In 2011, Tucker Carlson used the words pig and cunt to describe women on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.
2011: Protest outside Carlson's house in Washington, D.C.
In 2011, a group of protesters gathered outside Tucker Carlson's house in Kent, Washington, D.C., to protest him.
2011: Slurs on air
Tucker Carlson made remarks on race, immigration, and women that have been described as racist and sexist ending around 2011.
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, targeting Media Matters for America. The piece was criticized for relying on conjecture and lacking evidence.
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 Nomination
In 2012, Mitt Romney was nominated as the Republican candidate for president.
2012: Carlson Expressed Disappointment with Mitt Romney
In 2012, Tucker Carlson expressed his disappointment with the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.
April 2013: Carlson co-hosts Fox & Friends Weekend
In April 2013, Tucker Carlson replaced Dave Briggs as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, joining Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris.
2013: Carlson's views on the Episcopal Church
In 2013, Tucker Carlson expressed his complicated relationship with the Episcopal Church, citing his opposition to the church's support for same-sex marriage and abortion rights, but stated that he stays in the Church because he loves the liturgy and likes the people.
2015: Carlson Called Australian Gun Laws Insane
In 2015, Tucker Carlson said Australian gun laws were "insane" and "childish".
2015: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute
Through 2015, Tucker Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
January 2016: Carlson Expressed Support for Donald Trump's Candidacy
In January 2016, Tucker Carlson expressed his support for Donald Trump's candidacy and his positions, like his proposed Muslim ban.
March 2016: Criticism of Mitt Romney's Denouncement of Trump
In March 2016, when Mitt Romney denounced Trump, Tucker Carlson criticized Romney and dismissed his speech by suggesting "Obama could have written this."
November 14, 2016: Tucker Carlson Tonight premieres on Fox News
On November 14, 2016, Tucker Carlson began hosting 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' on Fox News. The premiere episode was the network's most watched telecast of the year in its time slot.
2016: Trump's presidential campaign
In 2016, Donald Trump ran a presidential campaign.
2016: Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight
In 2016, Tucker Carlson began hosting the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News.
January 9, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight moves to 9:00 p.m. time slot
On January 9, 2017, 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' moved to the 9:00 p.m. time slot on Fox News, replacing Megyn Kelly after she left the network.
January 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight scores high ratings
In January 2017, Forbes reported that 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' had high ratings, averaging 2.8 million viewers per night.
February 23, 2017: The Atlantic's assessment of Carlson's talent
On February 23, 2017, The Atlantic described Tucker Carlson's true talent as not being political philosophizing, but rather televised partisan combat, utilizing sarcasm, barbed comebacks, and vicious politeness to provoke his sparring partners.
March 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight most watched cable program
In March 2017, 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' became the most watched cable program in the 9:00 p.m. time slot.
April 19, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight airs at 8:00 p.m.
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: Carlson Signs Two-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's subscriber list sold to 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, raising conflict of interest concerns.
July 2017: Statement on Domestic Threat from Iran
In July 2017, Tucker Carlson stated that "we actually don't face any domestic threat from Iran".
September 19, 2017: GQ profile of Carlson
On September 19, 2017, in a GQ profile, Stephen Rodrick described how Tucker Carlson mocks and verbally attacks those who disagree with him on his show and shares a reluctance to apologize for mistakes with Donald Trump.
2017: New York Times on Stewart's Criticism
In 2017, The New York Times referred to Jon Stewart's 2004 "on-air dressing-down" of Carlson as an "ignominious career [moment]" for Carlson, leading to the show's cancellation.
2017: Carlson Explains Democratic Registration
In 2017, Tucker Carlson explained that his registration as a Democrat was to vote in mayoral primaries, despite disliking the Democratic Party.
2017: Carlson Disapproves of White Supremacy
In 2017, Tucker Carlson said that he does not approve of white supremacy.
2017: Carlson sells his house in Kent, Washington, D.C.
In 2017, Tucker Carlson sold his house in Kent, Washington, D.C., and purchased another nearby.
March 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight is third-highest-rated cable news show
As of March 2018, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the third-highest-rated cable news show.
March 2018: Carlson Criticized Trump's Comments 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.
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 and falsely said the country's president had changed the constitution to allow land thefts from whites.
October 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight is 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: 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." activist group protested outside Tucker Carlson's home in Washington, D.C., vandalizing his driveway.
2018: Carlson accuses McDougal of extortion
In 2018, Tucker Carlson accused Playboy model Karen McDougal of extorting Donald Trump.
2018: Criticism of China's Treatment of Muslims
In 2018, Tucker Carlson criticized China's treatment of Muslims.
2018: Denial of Racism and Promotion of Conspiracy Theory
In 2018, Tucker Carlson denied being a racist, stating "I'm not a racist. I hate racism." However, he continued to promote the conspiracy theory that Democrats are seeking "demographic replacement" to increase their voter base, using white nationalist terminology.
2018: Comments on Mass Immigration and Multiculturalism
In 2018, Tucker Carlson described the effects of mass immigration on the United States using the terms dirtier, poorer, and more divided. He also questioned the benefits of multiculturalism.
2018: Carlson's incorrect argument about Donald Trump and Karen McDougal
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.
2018: Carlson's book Ship of Fools
In 2018, Tucker Carlson's book titled "Ship of Fools" was released; the title was inspired by the Grateful Dead song of the same name.
2018: Carlson adopts some of Buchanan's views
In his 2018 book, Ship of Fools, Carlson wrote that he had adopted some of 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: Promotion of Populist Economics
Since 2018, Tucker Carlson has promoted more populist economics, attacking libertarianism and stating "market capitalism is not a religion." He also portrayed some Republicans as "controlled by the banks."
January 2019: Tucker Carlson Tonight viewership declines
By January 2019, viewership for 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' had declined to 2.8 million nightly viewers, a six percent decrease from the previous year, and the show lost advertisers.
January 2019: Criticism of 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 from Fox News
In March 2019, there were calls to fire Tucker Carlson from Fox News after Media Matters resurfaced controversial remarks he had made on the radio show 'Bubba the Love Sponge'.
May 2019: Defense of Trump's Tariffs on Mexico
In May 2019, Tucker Carlson defended Trump's decision to place tariffs on Mexico unless Mexico stopped illegal immigration to the United States, calling Mexico "a hostile foreign power."
May 2019: Statements on Illegal Workers
In May 2019, Tucker Carlson said, "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: Role in Dissuading Military Strikes Against Iran
According to The New York Times, in June 2019, Tucker Carlson played an influential role in dissuading Trump from launching military strikes against Iran in response to the shooting down of an American drone, advising Trump that such action would hurt his re-election chances.
June 2019: Defense of Trump's Friendship with Kim Jong-un
In June 2019, Tucker Carlson defended Trump's friendship with Kim Jong-un, stating that leading a country "means killing people."
July 9, 2019: Monologue Criticizing Ilhan Omar
On July 9, 2019, Tucker Carlson concluded Tucker Carlson Tonight with a monologue about 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".
August 2019: Advertising changes on Fox News
By August 2019, Media Matters reported that some companies had fulfilled their media buy contracts for 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' and began purchasing for other time slots on Fox News.
September 10, 2019: Lobbying for Firing of John Bolton
On September 10, 2019, Donald Trump fired John Bolton after Tucker Carlson lobbied Trump to fire his national security advisor.
November 2019: Repeating Claims About Douma Chemical Attack and Suggesting False Flag
In November 2019, Tucker Carlson repeated claims questioning whether the Douma chemical attack had happened at all and suggested a similar attack was a false flag to implicate the Assad government.
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: False Claim 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: Carlson Owns an AR-15 Style Rifle
In 2019 Tucker Carlson stated that he owns an AR-15 style rifle and said "all my guns are working-class guns".
2019: Carlson Described as a Middle American Radical
In 2019, Park MacDougald described Tucker Carlson as a "Middle American radical" in New York magazine's Intelligencer.
2019: Accusations of Democrats Supporting Increased Immigration
In 2019, Tucker Carlson accused Democrats of supporting increased immigration to change the racial demographics of the United States to increase the Democratic voter base.
2019: Criticism of LeBron James
In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized LeBron James for speaking out against Daryl Morey.
2019: Criticism of Hedge Funds and Praise for Elizabeth Warren's Economic Plan
In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized hedge funds, singling out Republican donor Paul Singer, and private equity, in criticizing Mitt Romney. He praised Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's economic plan and called her book The Two Income Trap "one of the best books I've ever read on economics".
2019: Influence on Trump's Decisions
In 2019, Tucker Carlson was said to have influenced some of Donald Trump's decisions as president, including the cancellation of a military strike against Iran.
2019: Release of Racist Comments by Media Matters
In 2019, advocacy group Media Matters for America released recordings of racist comments that Tucker Carlson made in 2006.
January 2020: Carlson Criticized Trump's Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
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
In May 2020, Tucker Carlson began to publicly question the severity of the COVID-19 virus.
June 2020: Carlson 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 for an undisclosed amount, stating that Patel was effectively running the site.
July 2020: Blake Neff resigns from Tucker Carlson Tonight
In July 2020, Blake Neff, Tucker Carlson's head writer, resigned after CNN Business reported on his racist, sexist, and homophobic posts on AutoAdmit.
August 2020: Carlson Aired Segments Defending Kyle Rittenhouse
In August 2020, Tucker Carlson aired segments defending Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot three protesters, killing two, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
September 2020: Carlson's admission about lying
In September 2020, Tucker Carlson stated on The Rubin Report that unlike TV newscasters who "systematically lie", he only lies when "really cornered or something", expressing his dislike for lying on TV but admitting to doing it out of weakness.
September 2020: Lawsuit against Fox News 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 viewers would be skeptical of his statements.
October 2020: Tucker Carlson Tonight achieves 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.
October 2020: Carlson alleges his text messages are being read
In October 2020, Tucker Carlson claimed on his show that someone was reading his text messages, after documents he claimed had compromising information on Joe Biden's son, Hunter, were lost by the United Parcel Service and then quickly located. The contents of the documents were not disclosed.
November 20, 2020: Promotion of COVID-19 Lab Leak Theory
On November 20, 2020, Tucker Carlson hosted Li-Meng Yan on his show to promote the COVID-19 lab leak theory, a theory that states COVID-19 was made in a Chinese laboratory and then escaped from the lab.
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., averaging four million viewers, despite controversies around Carlson's remarks criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement.
2020: Carlson Reportedly Voted for Kanye West
Following the 2020 election, Tucker Carlson reportedly told people he had voted for independent candidate Kanye West.
2020: Carlson Registered as a Democrat
From 2006 to 2020, Tucker Carlson was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C.
2020: Fox News' defense in a slander lawsuit
In 2020, Fox News successfully defended a slander lawsuit by Karen McDougal, citing Carlson's use of hyperbole as a rhetorical device. This lawsuit was related to Carlson incorrectly arguing in 2018 that Donald Trump had been a victim of extortion by McDougal.
2020: Criticism of Soleimani Assassination
In 2020, Tucker Carlson called the assassination of Qasem Soleimani a "quagmire" and criticized those promoting foreign interventions.
2020: Election Fraud Allegations and Apology
In 2020, Tucker Carlson raised false allegations of fraud in the election and mentioned names of purportedly dead individuals who voted in Georgia, later apologizing for the error.
2020: Calling Bob Iger a "propagandist"
In 2020, Tucker Carlson referred to Bob Iger as a "propagandist" for the Chinese Communist Party.
2020: Carlson sells his home in Kent and buys a house on Gasparilla Island
In 2020, Tucker 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 in The Daily Caller and left the company.
2020: Influence on Trump's Decisions
In 2020, Tucker Carlson was said to have influenced some of Donald Trump's decisions as president, including the commutation of Roger Stone's prison sentence.
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."
2020: Election Year
In 2020, claims of election fraud were made by various people, and Carlson privately doubted the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
January 26, 2021: Mike Lindell criticizes Dominion Voting Systems on Tucker Carlson Tonight
On January 26, 2021, Mike Lindell, whose company My Pillow was the largest advertiser on Tucker Carlson Tonight, appeared on the show to criticize Dominion Voting Systems. He claimed that the company had "hired hit groups and bots and trolls" to target him following the permanent suspension of his Twitter account for promoting unfounded fraud claims.
February 2021: Carlson announces deal for podcast and specials
In February 2021, Tucker Carlson announced a multiyear deal with Fox News to host a new weekly podcast and series of monthly specials called 'Tucker Carlson Originals' on Fox Nation.
February 2021: Carlson claims no white supremacists were responsible for January 6 Capitol attack
In February 2021, after Merrick Garland pledged to supervise the prosecution of "white supremacists and others" involved in the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Tucker Carlson claimed that there was no evidence that white supremacists were responsible for the attack. PolitiFact rated Carlson's claim as false.
March 2021: Criticism of Military and Maternity Flight Suits
In March 2021, Tucker Carlson ridiculed maternity flight suits for U.S. women soldiers, leading to a rebuke by the U.S. military.
March 2021: Statements on 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.
June 2021: Carlson promotes conspiracy theory about Capitol storming
In June 2021, Tucker Carlson promoted a conspiracy theory alleging that the Capitol storming was a "false flag" FBI operation intended to suppress political dissent. He claimed that FBI operatives were organizing the attack on the Capitol on January 6.
June 21, 2021: Report on Carlson as Media Source
On June 21, 2021, New York Times reporter Ben Smith reported that Tucker Carlson was a media source for several journalists and authors who wrote critically of Donald Trump.
June 28, 2021: Carlson claims the NSA is spying on him
On June 28, 2021, Tucker Carlson claimed on his program that a whistleblower informed him that the NSA was monitoring his electronic communications and planning to leak them to take his show off the air, alleging that the Biden administration was spying on him.
July 2021: Carlson's statements and truthfulness
In July 2021, Charlotte Alter of Time noted that while Tucker Carlson sometimes tells "outright falsehoods", he generally sticks to innuendo, avoiding factually disprovable assertions. As an example, she cited that Carlson didn't endorse Sidney Powell's voter fraud claims in the 2020 election but questioned those dismissing inquiries about voting machines.
July 2021: Carlson suggests voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia
In July 2021, Tucker Carlson suggested that there was meaningful voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia, during the previous November's election, despite the state's election results having been validated. PolitiFact found that the evidence provided by Carlson did not substantiate his claim.
July 2021: Carlson Said Republican Party is 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: Visit to Hungary and Praise for Viktor Orbán
In August 2021, Tucker Carlson traveled to Hungary, broadcasting from Budapest. He praised Viktor Orbán for rejecting asylum seekers and ridiculed the idea that Orbán was authoritarian.
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.
August 2021: NSA inspector general examines Carlson's allegation
In August 2021, the NSA inspector general's office announced it was examining Tucker Carlson's allegation that the NSA was spying on him.
October 2021: Release of Patriot Purge series on Fox Nation
In late October 2021, Tucker Carlson produced 'Patriot Purge', a three-part series released on the Fox Nation streaming service. The series suggested the January 6 attack was a government false flag operation to implicate the right wing and was met with controversy and criticism for containing falsehoods and conspiracy theories.
November 2021: Daily Mail publishes emails from Hunter Biden's laptop
In November 2021, the Daily Mail published emails from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden, which appeared to demonstrate a friendship between himself and Tucker Carlson.
December 2021: Comments on Gender Differences and Labor Participation
In December 2021, Tucker Carlson commented on gender differences, saying society is built on the differences between men and women.
2021: Carlson's influence in American politics and media
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, in 2021 Tucker Carlson was "recognized for his success in helping to bring far-right viewpoints and vocabulary into the mainstream of American politics". In 2021, Time suggested Carlson could be the most powerful conservative in America, and Mediaite named him the most influential person in news media.
2021: Tucker Carlson Tonight remains most-watched news-related cable show
As of mid-2021, 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' remained the most-watched news-related cable show.
2021: Carlson Described as Most Powerful Conservative in America
In 2021, Time magazine described Tucker Carlson as "may be the most powerful conservative in America".
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 that Buttigieg could be "trying to figure out how to breastfeed".
2021: Use of "Great Replacement" Terminology
In 2021, Tucker Carlson described the demographic replacement conspiracy theory as "the Great Replacement", using white nationalist terminology.
2021: Carlson's inclusion in Time 100 and impunity within Fox News
In 2021, a former NewsCorp executive, Alex Azam, described Tucker Carlson as having impunity within Fox News. Also in 2021, Carlson was included in the Time 100, Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
January 6, 2022: Ted Cruz apologizes on Carlson's show for calling Capitol storming a terrorist attack
On January 6, 2022, Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Tucker Carlson's show, the anniversary of the Capitol attack, and apologized for previously calling the event a terrorist attack.
January 2022: Release of 'Hungary vs. Soros'
In January 2022, Tucker Carlson released the film "Hungary vs. Soros" on Fox Nation, promoting conspiracy theories about Soros.
February 2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, which later led to Tucker Carlson interviewing Vladimir Putin in February 2024.
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" series
In April 2022, The New York Times published a three-part investigative series on Tucker Carlson called "American Nationalist". Carlson responded by saying that he has not read "American Nationalist" and does not plan to, and denied allegations about obsessing over ratings.
May 2022: Tucker Carlson Tonight second to The Five in viewership
Through May 2022, 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' was a close second to 'The Five' in total viewership, while leading in the 25–54 demographic.
September 2022: Comments on the British Empire After Queen Elizabeth II's Death
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Tucker Carlson commented that the British Empire had brought civilization to regions it occupied with "decency unmatched by any empire in human history".
September 2022: Carlson speaks at Sonny Barger's funeral
In September 2022, Tucker Carlson spoke at the funeral of Hells Angels president Sonny Barger, paying tribute to him and his values.
October 11, 2022: Publication of Leaked Footage from Ye Interview
On October 11, 2022, Vice website Motherboard published leaked unaired footage from Tucker Carlson's interview with Ye (Kanye West), revealing West's controversial views and statements. This led to scrutiny of Carlson's presentation of West's remarks and accusations of providing a platform for antisemitism.
October 2022: Tulsi Gabbard Appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight After Leaving Democratic Party
In October 2022, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight the night she left the Democratic Party.
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: Carlson's reluctance to acknowledge errors
In 2022, Bump argued that Tucker Carlson is loath to acknowledge factual errors in his commentary compared to other television anchors.
2022: Interview with Kanye West
In 2022, Tucker Carlson aired an edited version of an interview with rapper and fashion designer Ye, also known by his birth name Kanye West, on Tucker Carlson Tonight where they discussed the "White Lives Matter" shirt and West's views on abortion.
2022: Questioning Great Replacement Conspiracy Theory
In 2022, Tucker Carlson questioned the popularity of the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, after it was invoked by multiple white supremacist mass shooters.
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.
2022: Defense of Putin Leading Up to 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, in response to The New York Times publishing a report criticizing Tucker Carlson and his show, Carlson defended his show's views on race, invoking Martin Luther King Jr.'s principles.
2022: Downplaying Russian Military Buildup and Promoting Pro-Russian Disinformation
In early 2022, Tucker Carlson downplayed Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders as a "border dispute". Although Carlson called the Russian invasion of Ukraine "awful" and acknowledged Putin's responsibility, he has promoted pro-Russian disinformation since then.
2022: Carlson buys a second home next door to his house on Gasparilla Island
In the summer of 2022, Tucker Carlson bought a second home next door to his house on Gasparilla Island.
March 2023: Carlson 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 expresses anger over leaked private texts and affirms love for Trump
In March 2023, Tucker Carlson expressed his anger that his private texts were released during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit. He also stated that he loves Trump and finds him funny and insightful, despite previous texts showing the opposite.
March 2023: Attorney demands retraction of Carlson's statements on Ray Epps
In March 2023, an attorney for Ray Epps demanded a public retraction from Tucker Carlson for false and defamatory statements Carlson made about Epps, related to the January 6th attack.
April 24, 2023: Fox News Dismissed Carlson
On April 24, 2023, Fox News dismissed Tucker Carlson and his evening show's executive producer. Carlson apparently did not have advance notice of his dismissal.
May 9, 2023: Carlson Announces Relaunch of Show on Twitter
On May 9, 2023, Tucker Carlson announced he would relaunch his show on Twitter. His attorneys also sent a letter to Fox executives alleging breach of contract.
June 6, 2023: Release of Tucker on Twitter Episode 1
On June 6, 2023, the first episode of Tucker's new show, Tucker on Twitter, was released. In the episode, Carlson made several controversial claims.
June 2023: Carlson Seeks Funds for New Media Company
In June 2023, Tucker Carlson was reportedly seeking funds, along with Neil Patel, to start a new media company.
August 23, 2023: Carlson Hosts Donald Trump on Tucker on X
On August 23, 2023, Tucker Carlson hosted Donald Trump on Tucker on X, which was deliberately scheduled to conflict with the first 2024 Republican debate.
September 6, 2023: Carlson Interviews Larry Sinclair
On September 6, 2023, Tucker Carlson interviewed Larry Sinclair, who made controversial claims about Barack Obama. The interview was criticized by many, including Elon Musk.
September 2023: Interview Regarding 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, Fox News began using a rotation of guest hosts to fill Tucker Carlson's former time slot until a permanent replacement could be found.
November 2023: La Gaceta Article Retraction After Carlson's Appearance
In November 2023, La Gaceta retracted Mamela Fiallo's rebuttal article after Carlson appeared with Santiago Abascal in support of the 2023 Spanish protests.
2023: Release of the Biography Tucker
In 2023, Chadwick Moore released a biography of Tucker Carlson titled Tucker. Carlson provided over 100 hours of interviews for the book.
2023: End of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News
In 2023, Tucker Carlson's contract with Fox News was terminated, ending his role as the host of Tucker Carlson Tonight.
2023: Criticism of Wind Power Use
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.
2023: Carlson airs security video from Capitol attack
In early 2023, after being granted exclusive access to security surveillance video from the day of the Capitol attack by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Tucker Carlson aired portions of the video on his show. He portrayed the event as "peaceful chaos" and condemned other media outlets for portraying it as violent.
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.
February 2024: Carlson Interviews 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.
May 2024: Launch of The Tucker Carlson Show Podcast
In May 2024, Tucker Carlson launched a weekly commentary podcast, The Tucker Carlson Show, which quickly gained popularity.
July 2024: The Tucker Carlson Show Ranks #1 on Spotify
By July 2024, The Tucker Carlson Show became the #1 most popular podcast on Spotify.
September 2, 2024: Carlson Hosts Darryl Cooper, Resulting in Controversy
On September 2, 2024, Tucker Carlson hosted Darryl Cooper on Tucker on X. Cooper endorsed Holocaust denial and otherwise departed from the historical consensus regarding World War II, causing controversy.
2024: Carlson Dismisses Link Between Climate Change and 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 shares his belief about being attacked by a demon
In 2024, Tucker Carlson shared with a documentary producer that he believes he was mauled by a demon while in bed, leaving him bleeding.
2024: Conflict with the 2024 Republican Debate
In August 2023, Tucker Carlson hosted Donald Trump on Tucker on X, deliberately to conflict with the first 2024 Republican debate.
2025: Dick Carlson's Death
In 2025, Dick Carlson, Tucker Carlson's father, died.
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