With the largest fan base in cable news, and arguably all news media, Tucker Carlson can author his next chapter on his own.
Although he has already broken his silence after he was removed from Fox’s prime time 8 p.m. slot, the popular host has remained quiet on the details regarding his dismissal. Carlson has not officially been fired from Fox, as the two sides negotiate an exit deal.
This Means War
Many have come to Carlson’s defense, including former Fox host Megyn Kelly, who has been repeatedly scorching Fox in the past two weeks, particularly the channel’s Senior VP of Communications, Irena Briganti, for the channel’s treatment of Carlson.
And while Carlson initially kept his allies at bay from attacking Fox, it seems the truce is coming to an end. A recent report from Axios illustrates Carlson’s attitude has shifted from desiring a peaceful departure to “Defcon 1.” According to a friend, Carlson’s team is “preparing for war. He wants his freedom.”
Carlson’s current contract with Fox, worth approximately $6 million a year, doesn’t expire until January 2025, which would mean him sitting out the upcoming presidential election.
No doubt, this would not be acceptable for the former prime-time favorite. Judging from his most recent keynote addresses to the Heritage Foundation and the Rainbow Mega Foundation in Oxford, Alabama last week, Carlson is not one to sit quietly on the sidelines when it comes to calling out what many perceive to be the demise of American culture, the unraveling of political order, and the unethical conduct of the ruling elite. Those two speeches, along with Carlson’s initial video announcement on Twitter on the Wednesday after his last show on Fox, have garnered over 100 million views.
Carlson’s Options
This kind of popularity offers Tucker a lot of leverage. He has already received several offers that make his deal with Fox look like dog scraps. In a public offer, Patrick Bet-David, the CEO of online content company Valuetainment, presented Carlson with a $100 million deal over five years, plus a board seat, an opportunity to shape the conversation on the site, and essentially a blank check. “What else? We are all ears,” wrote David.
Carlson is also being courted by Newsmax, Rumble, Glenn Beck’s operation, Blaze TV, and the Daily Wire, perhaps one of the most popular conservative news organizations next to Fox. He’s even been purported to have had “a conversation” with Elon Musk “about working together.”
Carlson could always strike out on his own and build something from scratch. However, this is a risky proposition, even for someone as popular as Carlson, and one that didn’t work out so well for Bill O’Reilly. Such a move requires audience fidelity to a singular persona, which can be difficult to sustain as the cult of personality wears off.
The Next Great Debate?
Tucker Carlson has even floated the idea of hosting his own GOP presidential debate. Circumventing the traditional presidential debate protocols established by the RNC would mean giving Trump a platform, as the ex-president has threatened he won’t participate in the first primary debate to be hosted by Fox.
Trump is also upset with the Ronald Reagan library, host of the second primary debate in September, for not inviting him to speak at their popular speakers series, A Time For Choosing, which has seen the likes of Trump’s competitors including Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and most recently, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Despite some disparaging remarks about the ex-president revealed during Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox, the relationship between Trump and Carlson seems to have warmed.
If he had to, Tucker could buy his freedom from Fox by relinquishing the full or partial amount of his contract. If his recent speeches are any indication, he seems to be a man more married to principle than money. Silence is a price too high to pay, but not one he’ll likely have to endure.
Tucker Carlson has hired one of the most ruthless lawyers in entertainment, Bryan Freedman (who also negotiated Kelly’s exit from NBC as well as Chris Harrison’s payout deal from The Bachelor). Freedman told Axios, “The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.”
Freedman is right. No one puts Tucker Carlson in a corner.
MORE: Could Donald Trump Be Disqualified from Becoming President Again?
MORE: Could Donald Trump Quit the GOP?
Jennifer Galardi is the politics and culture editor for 19FortyFive.com. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from Pepperdine University and produces and hosts the podcast Connection with conversations that address health, culture, politics and policy. In a previous life, she wrote for publications in the health, fitness, and nutrition space. In addition, her pieces have been published in the Epoch Times and Pepperdine Policy Review. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.