Fox News personality Tucker Carlson was mocked online after he inadvertently described himself while attacking California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Carlson's comments were directed towards Newsom's interview with MSNBC, where he discussed a wide range of subjects, including gun reform and attacks on LGBTQ+ people and abortion rights.
During the interview, Newsom criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) for allowing Floridians to carry concealed guns without a permit, which Carlson then used as a platform to criticize Newsom's integrity. Carlson accused Newsom of being "dishonest to its core" and of using words "to gain power," with "no connection to reality."
You can hear what Carlson said in the video below.
Carlson said:
“You’ll say literally anything. Words have no connection to reality. There’s no expectation that you’re describing something real."
"You’re merely using words as a tool to gain power. That’s terrifying.”
"It's dishonest to its core."
Ironically, these accusations can also be applied to Carlson himself.
Dominion Voting Systems has filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News. The lawsuit claims that Fox News and its top hosts, including Carlson, spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election being rigged, despite being aware that these claims were false.
Court filings from Dominion revealed private texts between Fox News hosts and executives, where they expressed concern that their dishonesty about the election was driving viewers away. Some hosts, including Carlson, appeared to have different views on air than they did in private.
The difference between Tucker Carlson's public and private opinions was made apparent when he privately expressed his strong dislike for former President Donald Trump. However, despite this personal animosity, Carlson publicly supported Trump and advanced his unfounded assertions of election manipulation.
Many have called out Carlson as a result.
In February, news outlets reported Carlson, perhaps the Fox News network's biggest mouthpiece for lies about election integrity, cast doubt on Trump's claims in text messages to his producer Alex Pfeiffer, referring to Trump as a "demonic force" and a "destroyer" in the aftermath of the Capitol riot.
In fact, Pfeiffer agreed with Carlson, responding “many on ‘our side’ are being reckless demagogues right now" as Trump railed against Fox News for calling the state of Arizona for Democrat Joe Biden on Electon Night.
Carlson worried the network's decision would have an adverse impact, saying the team had "worked really hard to build what [they] have" and that it infuriated him to see "those f**kers... destroying our credibility."
