Tucker Carlson has publicly defended former President Donald Trump after his conviction on 34 felony charges related to a hush-money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The verdict, returned by a Manhattan, New York jury, has elicited a mixed bag of reactions from Trump’s supporters and detractors, shedding light on the entrenched partisan fault lines in the United States.
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, Carlson used platform X to voice his opinion on the landmark verdict. He stated, “Bringing in the Third World makes us the Third World. This is what just happened. This won’t stop Trump. He will win the election unless he is eliminated first.” Carlson, a vocal Trump supporter, also argued that the verdict signaled “the end of the fairest justice system in the world,” and hinted that individuals defending the verdict pose a threat to the public.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another staunch Trump supporter, reinforced Carlson’s viewpoint. She shared his post and added her own interpretation, blaming “radical leftists and deep state operatives” for manipulating the trial. Greene argued, “What will they do now that President Trump is leading in the polls, and their efforts are failing? You don’t see this corruption even in unstable countries, yet it’s happening here. Their biggest fear is another Trump presidency. Now, more than ever, President Trump needs your support.”
The trial, under intense media scrutiny, ended with Trump found guilty on all charges of false business records to hide a payment made to Daniels during the 2016 presidential race. Trump has staunchly denied any misconduct, labeling the trial as a “rigged, disgraceful” event. Speaking to his supporters outside the courthouse, Trump stated, “The true judgment will be made by the people on November 5th, and they are fully aware of what transpired here.”
Various Fox News analysts have also commented on the verdict, with hosts such as Jeanine Pirro, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity presenting it as a partisan assault aimed at undermining Trump’s prospects in the forthcoming election. Pirro suggested the conviction would “energize” Trump’s base, while Ingraham warned of a future where political adversaries are incarcerated. Hannity prompted viewers to “render the final verdict” on Election Day, echoing a prevalent narrative among conservative media figures that the trial had political undertones.
Despite the conviction, Trump remains a key player in the 2024 presidential contest. His sentencing is slated for July 11, just prior to the Republican National Convention, a timing that has only strengthened his supporters’ assertions that the trial was tactically timed to influence his campaign.
In a noteworthy turn of events, Carlson, who was removed from Fox News, continues to endorse Trump despite earlier private communications revealing his criticism of the former president. These communications, disclosed during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News, revealed Carlson referring to Trump as a “demonic force” and showing a desire to stop covering Trump on a daily basis.