History of Tucker Carlson in Timeline
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.
13 hours ago : Tucker Carlson Visits Israel, Meets Huckabee; Trump Advised Him on Israel Rhetoric.
Tucker Carlson visited Israel, met with Mike Huckabee, facing challenges. Reports surface of Trump advising Carlson to moderate his rhetoric regarding Israel. Carlson's visit garnered attention.
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.
1972: Reference to Nixon's Visit to China
Tucker Carlson has said normalization of relations with China following President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit led to unforeseen consequences, and that America became progressively worse off for it.
1976: Carlson's Parents 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.
1995: Joins The Weekly Standard
In 1995, Tucker Carlson joined The Weekly Standard news magazine.
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".
1999: Interviews George W. Bush
In 1999, Tucker Carlson interviewed then-Governor George W. Bush for Talk magazine, quoting Bush mocking Karla Faye Tucker and using the word "fuck", leading to bad publicity for Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.
1999: Spreading Disinformation Regarding the 1999 NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia
In 1999, Tucker Carlson spread disinformation regarding the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, omitting to mention the ethnic cleansing of Albanians by Serbian forces that occurred during the war.
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: CNN Commentator
In 2000, Tucker Carlson became a commentator for CNN.
2000: Co-hosts The Spin Room
In 2000, Tucker Carlson co-hosted The Spin Room on CNN.
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".
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 Quits Drinking Alcohol
In 2002, Tucker Carlson quit drinking alcohol.
September 2003: Publication of Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites
In September 2003, Tucker Carlson's memoir, Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News, was published by Warner Books. The book received favorable reviews for its humor.
November 2003: Hired by PBS
In November 2003, Tucker Carlson was hired to host a new program for PBS called Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
2003: Public Support of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq
In 2003, Tucker Carlson publicly supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
2003: Publishes "Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites"
In 2003, Tucker Carlson published his book "Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites".
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".
2003: Esquire Profile Earns Award 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: Interview Featured in Fahrenheit 9/11
Tucker Carlson's 2003 interview with Britney Spears, about the Iraq War, was featured in the 2004 film Fahrenheit 9/11.
June 18, 2004: Launch of Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered on PBS
Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered launched on PBS on June 18, 2004.
October 2004: Jon Stewart's Critique of Crossfire
In October 2004, Jon Stewart appeared on Crossfire and launched into a critique of the show, saying it was harmful to political discourse in the U.S.
2004: Britney Spears Wins Golden Raspberry Award
In 2004, Britney Spears won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress at the 25th Golden Raspberry Awards for her appearance in the film Fahrenheit 9/11.
2004: Stewart Confronts Carlson on Crossfire
In 2004, Jon Stewart confronted Tucker Carlson on Crossfire. Lyz Lenz of the Columbia Journalism Review wrote that this debate maneuver mirrors Jon Stewart's confrontation of Carlson on Crossfire in 2004.
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: Accusation of Bush's Weakness in Esquire Commentary
In 2004, Tucker Carlson wrote a commentary in Esquire accusing President Bush of weakness after the September 11 attacks and in the invasion of Iraq, stating that Iraq was not worth invading.
2004: Resigned from Crossfire
Tucker Carlson stated he resigned from Crossfire in April 2004, many months before Jon Stewart came on the show, because he didn't like 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 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 on PBS 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: 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: Carlson used the word faggot
In 2006, Carlson and Bubba the Love Sponge used the word faggot to describe their affection for each other.
2006: Carlson makes racist comments
In 2006, 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: 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: Hosts Winter Olympics Wrap-Up
In 2006, Tucker Carlson hosted a late-afternoon weekday wrap-up for MSNBC during the Winter Olympics.
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.
2007: Carlson describes an incident of beating up a gay man
In 2007 Carlson describes 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 Canceled by MSNBC
On March 10, 2008, Tucker was canceled by MSNBC due to low ratings.
March 14, 2008: Final Episode of Tucker Aired
On March 14, 2008, the final episode of Tucker aired on MSNBC.
2008: Ends Tucker on MSNBC
In 2008, Tucker Carlson ended his nightly program Tucker on MSNBC.
2008: Cameo Appearance in Swing Vote
In 2008, Tucker Carlson made a cameo appearance as himself in the film Swing Vote.
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.
2008: Potential Libertarian Candidacy
In 2008, Tucker Carlson was reportedly floated as a potential candidate for the Libertarian nomination in the presidential election. He was included in polling at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention. Carlson spoke at Ron Paul's independent Rally for the Republic convention.
2009: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute
From 2009 through 2015, Tucker Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
2009: Joins Fox News as a Political Analyst
In 2009, Tucker Carlson became a political analyst for Fox News, appearing on various programs before launching his own show.
2009: Reference to Decrease in Mexicans in the U.S.
In July 2018, Tucker Carlson's assertion about Mexican interference in U.S. elections was disputed by a journalist, who noted that the number of Mexicans in the U.S. had decreased since 2009.
January 11, 2010: Launches The Daily Caller
On January 11, 2010, Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel launched the political news website The Daily Caller.
February 2010: The Daily Caller Joins White House Press Pool
By February 2010, The Daily Caller was part of the White House rotating press pool.
June 2010: The Daily Caller publishes excerpts from JournoList e-mails
In June 2010, The Daily Caller released excerpts from emails between members of JournoList, a liberal forum. These emails, according to Carlson, revealed efforts to formulate talking points to defeat Palin and McCain and help elect Barack Obama. The leaked emails also contained controversial remarks from The Washington Post's Dave Weigel, leading to his resignation.
September 2010: Carlson produced and hosted a special entitled Fighting for Our Children's Minds
In September 2010, Tucker Carlson produced and hosted a special entitled Fighting for Our Children's Minds on Fox News.
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: Carlson used the words pig and cunt
In 2011, Carlson used the words pig and cunt to describe several individual women in remarks from 2006 to 2011 on the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge.
2011: Death of Lisa McNear (Lombardi)
In 2011, Lisa McNear (née Lombardi), Tucker Carlson's mother, passed away.
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.
February 2012: The Daily Caller publishes an "investigative series" of articles on Media Matters
In February 2012, The Daily Caller, with Carlson as co-author, published an investigative series on Media Matters for America. The piece was criticized for relying on conjecture and lacking evidence.
October 2012: Carlson publicizes 2007 video of Obama
In October 2012, Tucker Carlson publicized a 2007 video of then-Senator Barack Obama criticizing the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina and complimenting Reverend Jeremiah Wright. The video had been available online since 2007 and had portions that were already available online since 2007.
2012: Mitt Romney was the 2012 Republican nominee for president.
In 2012, Mitt Romney was the Republican nominee for president.
2012: Disappointment with Mitt Romney
In 2012, Tucker Carlson expressed his disappointment with the Republican nominee for the election, Mitt Romney.
April 2013: Carlson becomes co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend
In April 2013, Tucker Carlson replaced Dave Briggs as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, alongside Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris.
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: Senior Fellow at Cato Institute
From 2009 through 2015, Tucker Carlson was a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.
2015: Comments on Australian gun laws
In 2015, Tucker Carlson said Australian gun laws were "insane" and "childish".
January 2016: Support for Donald Trump's Candidacy
In January 2016, Tucker Carlson expressed his support for Donald Trump's candidacy and his positions, such as his proposed "Muslim ban".
March 2016: Carlson criticizes Romney for denouncing Trump
In March 2016, after Mitt Romney denounced Trump for evading questions about David Duke's support, 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, attracting 3.7 million viewers.
2016: Hosts Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News
From 2016, Tucker Carlson hosted the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News.
January 9, 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight replaces Megyn Kelly at 9:00 p.m. time slot
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.
February 23, 2017: The Atlantic on Carlson's Televised Partisan Combat
On February 23, 2017, The Atlantic wrote that "Carlson's true talent is not for political philosophizing, it's for televised partisan combat. His go-to weapons—the smirky sarcasm, the barbed comebacks, the vicious politeness—seem uniquely designed to drive his sparring partners nuts, frequently making for terrific television".
March 2017: Tucker Carlson Tonight becomes 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 moves to 8:00 p.m. on Fox News
On April 19, 2017, following the cancellation of The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News announced that Tucker Carlson Tonight would air at 8:00 p.m.
May 2017: Book Deal with Simon & Schuster
In May 2017, Tucker Carlson, represented by Javelin, signed an eight-figure, two-book deal with Simon & Schuster's Threshold Editions.
June 2017: The Daily Caller paid by Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for its list of subscribers
In June 2017, The Daily Caller was reported to have been paid $150,000 by Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign for its subscriber list. The Center for Media and Democracy watchdog group claimed Carlson had a conflict of interest and had violated journalistic standards as a result.
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 on Carlson's Show
On September 19, 2017, journalist Stephen Rodrick wrote in a GQ profile of Carlson: "On his show, Carlson mocks and verbally body-slams those who disagree with him, a passel of easy marks such as Democratic politicians, well-meaning liberal activists, and young reporters. He shares with Donald Trump a deep reluctance to apologize for his mistakes, and he lobs insults that seem suspiciously like subconscious self-assessments: He loves to accuse his guests of 'preening', and he derides 'pomposity, smugness, and groupthink'."
2017: Carlson states he does not approve of white supremacy
In 2017, Carlson said that he does not approve of white supremacy.
2017: NYT Article
In 2017, The New York Times referred to Jon Stewart's "on-air dressing-down" of Carlson as an "ignominious career [moment]" for Carlson.
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: Tucker Carlson Tonight third-highest-rated cable news show
As of March 2018, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the third-highest-rated cable news show.
March 2018: Criticism of Trump on 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 for Douma Chemical Attack
In April 2018, Tucker Carlson questioned whether Syrian President Assad was responsible for the Douma chemical attack.
August 2018: Carlson alleges South African government targeting white farmers
In August 2018, Carlson alleged that the South African government was targeting white farmers because "they are the wrong skin color" and falsely said the country's president had changed the constitution to allow land thefts from whites during ongoing land reform efforts.
October 2018: Tucker Carlson Tonight is second-highest rated cable news show in prime time
In October 2018, Tucker Carlson Tonight became the second-highest rated cable news show in prime time, with 3.2 million nightly viewers, after The Sean Hannity Show. By the end of 2018, a boycott by advertisers began after Carlson stated immigration makes the country "poorer, dirtier and more divided".
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, 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: Carlson criticizes China's treatment of Muslims
In 2018, Carlson criticized China's treatment of Muslims.
2018: Carlson describes the effects of mass immigration
In 2018, Carlson described the effects of mass immigration on the United States using the terms dirtier, poorer, and more divided and said it "has badly hurt this country's natural landscape".
2018: Carlson Incorrectly Argues Trump Extorted by McDougal
In 2018, Carlson incorrectly argued that Donald Trump had been a victim of extortion by Karen McDougal.
2018: Darren Beattie Fired as Trump Speechwriter
In 2018, Darren Beattie, who later appeared on Tucker Carlson's show, was fired as a Trump speechwriter after CNN inquired about his attendance at a gathering of white nationalists.
2018: Promotion of Populist Economics
In 2018, Tucker Carlson began promoting more populist economic views, criticizing libertarianism and asserting that market capitalism is not a religion. He also suggested that some Republicans were controlled by banks.
2018: Publishes "Ship of Fools"
In 2018, Tucker Carlson published his book "Ship of Fools".
2018: Carlson denies being racist
In 2018, Tucker Carlson said "I'm not a racist. I hate racism."
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.
January 2019: Tucker Carlson Tonight drops to third place and loses advertisers
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. The show also lost at least 26 advertisers.
January 2019: Criticism of Mainstream Republican Worldview
In January 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized what he described as the "mainstream Republican" worldview, specifically targeting unwavering support for a finance-based economy, using a The Washington Post op-ed by Romney as a basis for his criticism.
January 2019: FOIA Request Filed with NSA
On June 28, 2021, the same day that Tucker Carlson claimed the NSA was monitoring his communications, a producer for Carlson filed an unusually broad Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the NSA, seeking records dating back to January 2019, well before Biden became president, regarding any communications between NSA officials concerning Tucker Carlson.
March 2019: Calls to fire Carlson after resurfaced remarks
In March 2019, there were calls to fire Carlson from Fox News after Media Matters resurfaced remarks he had made to the radio show Bubba the Love Sponge. Despite boycotts, his ratings increased.
May 2019: Carlson says illegal workers damage communities
In May 2019, 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."
May 2019: Defense of Trump's Tariffs on Mexico
In May 2019, Tucker Carlson defended President Trump's decision to place tariffs on Mexico unless it stopped illegal immigration to the United States, stating "Mexico is a hostile foreign power."
June 2019: Role in Dissuading Trump from Military Strikes Against Iran
In June 2019, Tucker Carlson reportedly played an influential role in dissuading President Trump from launching military strikes against Iran after the shooting down of an American drone, arguing it would hurt his re-election chances.
June 2019: Defense of Trump's Friendship with Kim Jong-un
In June 2019, while touring with President Trump, Tucker Carlson defended Trump's friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, acknowledging the regime's atrocities but arguing that leadership sometimes requires killing people.
July 9, 2019: Carlson accuses Ilhan Omar of being ungrateful
On July 9, 2019, Carlson accused Representative Ilhan Omar of being ungrateful to the United States, and called her "living proof that the way we practice immigration has become dangerous to this country".
August 2019: Advertisers fulfill media buy contracts for Tucker Carlson Tonight's time slot
By August 2019, Media Matters calculated that some companies had fulfilled their media buy contracts and advertising inventory for the Tucker Carlson Tonight's time slot and had now begun their purchases for other time slots on Fox News.
September 10, 2019: Lobbying for the Firing of John Bolton
On September 10, 2019, Donald Trump fired John Bolton, national security advisor, after being lobbied by Tucker Carlson, who criticized Bolton's hawkish stance on Iran.
November 2019: Repeating Claims and Querying the Douma Chemical Attack
In November 2019, Tucker Carlson repeated claims and queried whether the Douma chemical attack had happened at all.
December 2019: Carlson falsely claims immigrants made the Potomac River dirtier
In December 2019, Carlson falsely claimed that immigrants were responsible for making the Potomac River "dirtier and dirtier".
December 2019: Karen McDougal sues Fox News over Carlson's comments
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.
2019: Carlson accuses Democrats of supporting increased immigration
In 2019, Carlson accused Democrats of supporting increased immigration to change the racial demographics of the United States to increase the Democratic voter base.
2019: Media Matters releases recordings of Carlson's racist comments
In 2019, Media Matters for America released recordings of racist comments that Carlson made in 2006.
2019: Carlson as a Middle American radical
In 2019, Park MacDougald of New York magazine's Intelligencer called Tucker Carlson a "Middle American radical," defining it as someone with populist economic beliefs, hostility to corporatocracy, nationalism, and a preference for a strong U.S. president.
2019: Criticism of LeBron James over Hong Kong Protests
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 Praise for Elizabeth Warren's Economic Plan
In 2019, Tucker Carlson criticized hedge funds, singling out Republican donor Paul Singer, and private equity firms. He also praised Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's economic plan and her book, calling The Two Income Trap "one of the best books I've ever read on economics".
2019: Statement of Rooting for Russia During Donbas War Discussion
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", later claiming it was a joke, but then said that the US should take the side of Russia if it has to choose between Russia and Ukraine.
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.
May 2020: Carlson Publicly Questions COVID-19 Severity
In May 2020, Tucker Carlson began to publicly question the severity of the COVID-19 virus, marking a shift from his earlier stance of taking the virus more seriously. He also criticized stay-at-home orders and defended protests against lockdowns in rural areas.
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.
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 it.
July 2020: Blake Neff resigns from Tucker Carlson Tonight
In July 2020, Blake Neff, Carlson's head writer, resigned after CNN Business reported he had been using a pseudonym to post racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks on AutoAdmit. This incident led to renewed scrutiny of Carlson's program.
August 2020: 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 on Lying on TV
In September 2020, on The Rubin Report, Tucker Carlson said that, unlike TV newscasters who he said "systematically lie", he will only lie "if I'm really cornered or something", saying, "I lie. I really try not to. I try never to lie on TV. ... I don't like lying. I certainly do it, you know, out of weakness or whatever."
October 2020: Tucker Carlson Tonight averages 5.3 million viewers
By October 2020, Tucker Carlson Tonight averaged 5.3 million viewers, becoming the highest of any cable news program in history at that point. However, the show saw a dip in viewership following the 2020 election.
October 2020: Carlson Alleges Text Messages Being Read
In October 2020, Tucker Carlson alleged 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 and then found by United Parcel Service.
November 20, 2020: The New York Times reports Bannon and Guo brought Li-Meng Yan to America
On November 20, 2020, The New York Times reported that Steve Bannon and Chinese businessman Guo Wengui brought Li-Meng Yan to America to promote the COVID-19 lab leak theory and set up appearances for Yan on Carlson's show to promote the theory.
2020: Tucker Carlson Tonight becomes highest-rated cable news show
Beginning the week of June 8–14, 2020, Tucker Carlson Tonight became the highest-rated cable news show in the U.S., averaging four million viewers. This occurred after Carlson criticized the Black Lives Matter movement, which caused some companies to pull their advertising from the show.
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: Fox News Defends Carlson in Slander Lawsuit
In 2020, Fox News successfully defended Carlson in a slander lawsuit by Karen McDougal, citing Carlson's use of hyperbole as a rhetorical device.
2020: Criticism of the Assassination of Qasem Soleimani
In 2020, Tucker Carlson criticized the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, calling it a "quagmire" and questioning the promotion of foreign interventions.
2020: Leaves The Daily Caller
In 2020, Tucker Carlson sold his ownership stake and left The Daily Caller.
2020: Carlson addresses head writer's firing
In 2020, after his head writer was fired for hateful blog posts, Carlson said of the posts, "They have no connection to the show. It is wrong to attack people for qualities they cannot control."
2020: Carlson Privately Doubted Election Claims
In 2020, text messages revealed that Tucker Carlson privately doubted false claims that the election was stolen and mocked Trump advisors, including Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. He expressed frustration with the situation and the impact on Fox News.
2020: Carlson Raises False Allegations of Voter Fraud
Throughout 2020, particularly after Joe Biden won the election in November, Tucker Carlson raised false allegations of voter fraud. He promoted the idea that Democrats were promoting mail-in voting to manipulate the election results. He also mentioned names of purportedly dead individuals who voted in Georgia, but later apologized for the error.
2020: Criticism of LeBron James over Hong Kong Protests
Tucker Carlson criticized LeBron James for speaking out against Daryl Morey, the latter having tweeted in support of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.
2020: Party affiliation as Democrat
Tucker Carlson was registered as a Democrat in Washington, D.C., from 2006 to 2020.
January 26, 2021: Carlson Hosts Mike Lindell to Criticize Dominion Voting Systems
On January 26, 2021, Tucker Carlson hosted Mike Lindell, whose company My Pillow was a major advertiser on his show, to criticize Dominion Voting Systems. Lindell claimed that Dominion had "hired hit groups and bots and trolls" to target him following his Twitter account's suspension for promoting unfounded fraud claims.
February 2021: Carlson announces multiyear deal with Fox News
In February 2021, Tucker Carlson announced a multiyear deal with Fox News to host a new weekly podcast and series of monthly specials dubbed Tucker Carlson Originals on Fox Nation and began hosting a show on Fox Nation called Tucker Carlson Today in the spring of 2021.
February 2021: Carlson Alleges No White Supremacists Responsible for January 6 Attack
In February 2021, after Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing, Tucker Carlson alleged that there was no evidence that white supremacists were responsible for the January 6 United States Capitol attack, a claim PolitiFact rated false. He also inaccurately stated that no one in the crowd on January 6 was found to be carrying a firearm.
March 2021: Carlson blames Latin American immigration crisis on "other colonial powers centuries ago"
In March 2021, Carlson stated that issues like the Latin American immigration crisis should be blamed on "other colonial powers centuries ago" instead of the United States, and suggested that the Spanish government should start by "sending back the gold now sitting in its central bank."
March 2021: Carlson rebuked by U.S. military
In March 2021, 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 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 to suppress political dissent. He claimed that unindicted co-conspirators in rioters' indictments were government agents.
June 21, 2021: Reported as Media Source
On June 21, 2021, New York Times reported that Tucker Carlson was a media source for several journalists and authors who wrote critically of Donald Trump.
June 28, 2021: Carlson Claims NSA is Monitoring His Communications
On June 28, 2021, Tucker Carlson claimed on his program that a whistleblower informed him the National Security Agency (NSA) was monitoring his electronic communications and planning to leak them to take his show off the air, alleging the Biden administration was spying on him.
July 2021: Time Article on Carlson's Rhetoric
In July 2021, Charlotte Alter of Time wrote that Carlson sometimes tells "outright falsehoods", but generally "avoids assertions that are factually disprovable, instead sticking to innuendo".
July 2021: 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 validations via hand and machine recounts. PolitiFact found that the evidence he provided did not substantiate his conclusion.
July 2021: Criticism of the Republican Party
In July 2021, Tucker Carlson told Time magazine that the Republican Party is "inept and bad at governing".
August 2021: Broadcasting from Hungary and Praising Viktor Orbán
In August 2021, Tucker Carlson traveled to Hungary, broadcasting from Budapest and praising Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's policies on asylum seekers. He also spoke at a conference sponsored by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium.
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 had unmasked his identity.
October 2021: Release of 'Patriot Purge' on Fox Nation
In October 2021, 'Patriot Purge,' a three-part series produced by Tucker Carlson, was released on Fox Nation. The series promoted a conspiracy theory suggesting the January 6 attack was a government false flag operation. It was widely criticized for containing falsehoods and conspiracy theories, leading to the severing of ties between some conservative writers and Fox News.
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, revealing a friendship between himself and Tucker Carlson.
December 2021: Carlson comments on the labor participation rate of U.S. men
In a December 2021 segment despairing the falling labor participation rate of U.S. men, Carlson said, "Men and women are very different, extremely different. Society is built on their differences."
2021: Carlson belittled the paternity leave taken by Pete Buttigieg
In 2021, 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: Carlson describes "the Great Replacement"
In 2021, Carlson described the Democrats seeking "demographic replacement" as "the Great Replacement", using white nationalist terminology.
2021: Carlson as the most powerful conservative
In 2021, Time magazine described Tucker Carlson as "may be the most powerful conservative in America".
2021: Carlson as a Leading Voice in Right-Wing Media
In 2021, Time said that Carlson could be the most powerful conservative in America. Mediaite named Carlson the most influential person in news media in 2021.
2021: Publishes "The Long Slide"
In 2021, Tucker Carlson published his book "The Long Slide".
2021: Time 100 Inclusion and NewsCorp Executive Profile of Carlson
In 2021, a former NewsCorp executive, Alex Azam, described Carlson as having some impunity within Fox News. Also in 2021, he 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 to Carlson for Calling Capitol Storming a "Terrorist Attack"
On January 6, 2022, the anniversary of the Capitol attack, Senator Ted Cruz appeared on Tucker Carlson's show and apologized for previously calling the Capitol storming a "terrorist attack" after Carlson criticized him for it.
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. The Open Society Foundations called the film "anti-American propaganda".
February 2022: Carlson Supports Canada Convoy Protest
In February 2022, Tucker Carlson voiced his support for the Canada convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions, describing it as "the single most successful human rights protest in a generation". He also claimed that some U.S. officials were overstating the deadliness of the virus, a claim that PolitiFact deemed mostly false.
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.
April 2022: The New York Times Publishes "American Nationalist" Series on Carlson
In April 2022, The New York Times published a three-part 20,000-word investigative series on Carlson called "American Nationalist", documenting Carlson's rise to prominence and his rhetoric on immigration, race relations and the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlson responded by denying allegations from the Times about obsessing over ratings, saying that "I've never read the ratings a single day in my life. I don't even know how. Ask anyone at Fox."
May 2022: Tucker Carlson Tonight a close second to The Five
Through May 2022 Tucker Carlson Tonight was a close second to The Five, while leading in the 25-54 demographic.
September 2022: Carlson opines on the British Empire after the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Carlson opined that the British Empire, although "not perfect", 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, praising Barger and his values.
October 11, 2022: Motherboard publishes leaked unaired footage from Carlson's interview with Ye
On October 11, 2022, Vice website Motherboard published leaked unaired footage from the interview of Carlson with Ye. The leaked footage was heavily scrutinized in light of other antisemitic statements West had made on social media in the days after the Tucker Carlson Tonight interview aired.
October 2022: Tulsi Gabbard's appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight
In October 2022, Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight the night she left the Democratic Party, to Carlson's praise.
November 2022: Carlson's rhetoric about LGBTQ controversies scrutinized
In November 2022, Carlson's promotion of inflammatory rhetoric about LGBTQ controversies was scrutinized after the Colorado Springs nightclub mass shooting.
2022: Carlson's Reluctance to Acknowledge Factual Errors
In 2022, Bump argued that compared with other television anchors, Carlson is loath to acknowledge factual errors in his commentary.
2022: Carlson challenges accusations that he believes in the Great Replacement conspiracy theory.
In 2022, Carlson has challenged accusations that he believes the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, describing it as a "voting rights question".
2022: Carlson releases "The End of Men"
In 2022, Carlson released The End of Men, a Tucker Carlson Original alleging a decline in American masculinity. The episode featured Raw Egg Nationalist, a pseudonymous author affiliated with neo-Nazi publishing house Antelope Hill.
2022: Defense of Vladimir Putin Leading Up to the Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, Tucker Carlson was noted for defending Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Carlson responds to The New York Times criticism
In 2022, in response to The New York Times publishing a report criticizing Carlson and his show, Carlson stated his show's view of race is inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing judging people by their actions, not appearance.
2022: Downplaying of Russian Military Buildup and Promotion of Pro-Russian Disinformation
In early 2022, Tucker Carlson downplayed Russia's military buildup on Ukraine's borders and promoted pro-Russian disinformation after the invasion, including a conspiracy theory about U.S. and Kyiv developing biological weapons in Ukraine. His broadcasts were used by Russian state media to support their messaging.
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.
2022: Carlson airs an edited version of an interview with Ye
On the October 6 and 7, 2022 episodes of Tucker Carlson Tonight, Carlson aired an edited version of an interview with rapper and fashion designer Ye, also known by his birth name Kanye West.
March 2023: Carlson Discusses Private Texts and Views on Trump
In March 2023, Tucker Carlson commented on his private texts being pulled for a court case, expressing anger about it. He also asserted that he loves Trump and finds him funny and insightful.
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".
March 2023: Attorney Demands Retraction of Statements About Ray Epps
In March 2023, an attorney for Ray Epps wrote to Tucker Carlson demanding a public retraction of "false and defamatory statements" related to a conspiracy theory Carlson promoted, alleging Epps was a federal agent instigating the January 6 attack.
April 2023: Fox News Canceled Tucker Carlson Tonight
In April 2023, Fox News canceled Tucker Carlson Tonight, leading Carlson to launch The Tucker Carlson Show.
April 24, 2023: Fox News dismisses Tucker Carlson
On the morning of Monday, April 24, 2023, Fox News dismissed Tucker Carlson and the executive producer of his evening show. Carlson seemingly did not receive prior notice, telling viewers on Friday, April 21, that he would "be back on Monday".
May 9, 2023: Carlson announces relaunch of his show on Twitter
On May 9, 2023, Tucker Carlson announced via a video on his Twitter feed that he would relaunch his show on Twitter. His attorneys alleged that Rupert Murdoch and other Fox executives "intentionally" broke their promises to him.
June 6, 2023: Tucker on Twitter first episode released
On June 6, 2023, the first episode of Tucker on Twitter was released. During the episode, Carlson made controversial claims regarding extraterrestrial starships, Volodymyr Zelensky, the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, Black Lives Matter, and the September 11 attacks.
June 2023: Carlson seeks funds to start a new media company
In June 2023, it was reported that Tucker Carlson was seeking funds to start a new media company with Neil Patel.
August 2023: Visit to Hungary and Meeting with Serbian Officials
In August 2023, Tucker Carlson visited Hungary and met with Serbian officials, including the Minister of Sports, Zoran Gajić, the Minister of Finance, Siniša Mali, and President Aleksandar Vučić.
August 23, 2023: Carlson hosts Donald Trump on Tucker on X
On August 23, 2023, Tucker Carlson hosted Donald Trump on Tucker on X, deliberately timed 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 claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Barack Obama. The interview was widely criticized.
September 2023: Carlson interviews a man who claimed 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 filled Carlson's old slot on Fox News until a permanent replacement was found.
November 2023: La Gaceta retracts Fiallo's rebuttal after Carlson appears with Santiago Abascal
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: 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.
2023: Criticism of Wind Power in New Jersey and New York
In 2023, Tucker Carlson, along with Clean Ocean Action and multiple Republicans, criticized New Jersey and New York's use of wind power, falsely claiming it contributed to whale deaths.
2023: Release of biography Tucker
In 2023, the biography of Tucker Carlson titled Tucker was released. Chadwick Moore wrote the book with Carlson's help, who provided over 100 hours of interviews. The book's sales were poor.
February 2024: Interviews Vladimir Putin
In February 2024, Tucker Carlson became the first Western journalist to interview Russian president Vladimir Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
May 2024: Launch of The Tucker Carlson Show podcast
In May 2024, Tucker Carlson launched The Tucker Carlson Show, a weekly commentary podcast. Despite initial reports of diminished popularity, the show quickly gained traction.
July 2024: The Tucker Carlson Show on Spotify
By July 2024, The Tucker Carlson Show became the #1 most popular political podcast on Spotify.
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.
September 2, 2024: Hosting Darryl Cooper on Tucker on X
On September 2, 2024, Tucker Carlson hosted Darryl Cooper on Tucker on X. Cooper endorsed Holocaust denial and deviated from the historical consensus regarding World War II, causing controversy, without correction or contradiction from Carlson.
2024: Dismissal of climate change and hurricanes
In 2024, Tucker Carlson dismissed the link between climate change and hurricanes, attributing it to abortion.
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.
January 2025: Repeating Narratives About NATO Intervention in Serbia
In January 2025, Tucker Carlson repeated his narrative regarding the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, describing it as a "bombing of Christians in Yugoslavia" during a debate with Piers Morgan.
September 2025: Carlson criticizes Attorney General Pam Bondi for attempting to suppress free speech
In September 2025, Carlson criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for attempting to exploit the assassination of Charlie Kirk to suppress free speech in the United States.
October 28, 2025: Hosting Nick Fuentes and subsequent controversy
On October 28, 2025, Tucker Carlson hosted white nationalist political commentator Nick Fuentes. The Heritage Foundation's president, Kevin Roberts, publicly defended Carlson for having Fuentes on his podcast, igniting a debate about antisemitism among conservatives. Republicans including Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell condemned the Heritage Foundation's defense of Carlson.
November 2025: Promotion of Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory
In November 2025, Tucker Carlson promoted the chemtrail conspiracy theory.
December 2025: Named 'Antisemite of the Year' by StopAntisemitism
In December 2025, Tucker Carlson was named "Antisemite of the Year" by StopAntisemitism due to remarks critical of Israel and allegedly antisemitic made throughout 2025.
2025: Projected death of Dick Carlson
Dick Carlson, Tucker Carlson's father, is projected to die in 2025.
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.
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