Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has made explosive allegations against his former employer, claiming the network’s war coverage transformed him into “a semi-witting cog in the propaganda machine” and caused significant physical stress that contributed to weight gain during his tenure.
During a recent episode of “The Tucker Carlson Show” featuring fellow former Fox News anchor Clayton Morris, Carlson launched his most direct attack yet on his former employer since his departure in April 2023. The conversation, which aired on June 24, 2025, focused on Fox News’ coverage of mounting tensions with Iran and President Donald Trump’s recent military actions.
Carlson revealed that the Murdoch family, owners of Fox News, approached him in May 2023 with an unexpected proposition. According to Carlson, Lachlan Murdoch specifically encouraged him to run against Trump in the 2024 presidential election, offering the full support of the Murdoch media empire including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal.
The former primetime host indicated that Lachlan Murdoch told him the family would back his presidential campaign with their entire media apparatus. Carlson dismissed the proposal, stating he would never get elected and expressing his continued support for Trump despite recent frustrations with the President’s foreign policy decisions.
During the broadcast, Carlson characterized his 14-year tenure at Fox News as physically demanding, describing the toll his work took on his body. Morris, who worked alongside Carlson at Fox for 10 years, compared the experience to giving employees cancer, prompting Carlson’s candid admission about the stress-related weight gain he experienced.
The conversation revealed deep tensions within conservative media circles regarding U.S. foreign policy, particularly concerning Iran. Carlson accused Fox News of following a predetermined playbook similar to their coverage leading up to the 2003 Iraq War, suggesting the network deliberately promotes pro-war messaging to generate profits and maintain viewer engagement.
Morris, who now hosts the podcast “Redacted,” supported Carlson’s assertions about media manipulation, describing how networks coordinate messaging across different shows to create a unified narrative supporting military intervention. Both former Fox hosts expressed frustration with what they characterized as the network’s departure from genuine journalism in favor of propaganda.
Carlson’s departure from Fox News occurred following the network’s historic $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over false claims about voting machines during the 2020 election. Text messages revealed during the lawsuit showed Carlson privately expressing hatred for Trump while publicly supporting him on air, creating additional controversy around his credibility.
The former host acknowledged his role in past propaganda efforts, referencing his time at CNN where he participated in promoting the Iraq War despite later recognizing the misleading nature of the coverage. He described reading Osama bin Laden’s manifesto on air to provide context for the September 11 attacks, demonstrating his evolution toward questioning official narratives.
Since leaving Fox News, Carlson has continued criticizing Trump’s foreign policy decisions, particularly regarding military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. This criticism has created tension between the former host and the President, with Trump responding that he alone determines what “America First” means since he developed the principle.
The Murdoch family has not responded to requests for comment regarding Carlson’s claims about their alleged opposition to Trump or the purported offer to support his presidential campaign. Representatives for Fox News also declined to address the specific allegations made during the broadcast.