Recently ousted Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson is reportedly considering hosting Republican candidate forums and has even discussed the idea with former President Donald Trump.
This news comes after Trump floated the idea of skipping forums moderated by Fox News, citing the network’s “hostile” approach and failure to consult him on the matter.
According to the Washington Post, Carlson has shown enthusiasm for the idea of moderating candidate forums outside of the traditional GOP primary debate system.
This move could challenge the Republican National Committee’s control over the process and the role usually played by major television networks.
An individual familiar with the discussions suggested that Carlson could “go straight to the candidates, stream it live, invite the networks but maintain control over the process.”
Carlson’s interest in hosting these forums aligns with reports of him receiving calls from networks such as Trinity Broadcast Network, One America News Network, and Newsmax, all interested in hiring him.
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Newsmax has experienced a prime-time ratings boost as Fox News loses viewers from Carlson’s former time slot.
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy has even proposed rebranding Newsmax under Carlson’s name, an idea that has reportedly piqued Carlson’s interest.
However, Carlson’s contract with Fox News, which runs through the end of 2024, could pose a challenge to his immediate professional plans.
A source close to Fox News senior executives stated, “As of right now, the plan remains the same: pay out Carlson’s contract and keep him on the sidelines through the 2024 elections.”
The source added that everyone at Fox News is “pretty rattled” by the blowback following Carlson’s departure.
Carlson’s interest in hosting 2024 GOP candidate forums emerged following his unexpected exit from Fox News, which left the media world speculating about his next move.
The Washington Post reported that Carlson has entertained the idea of hosting a forum for the Republican candidates, even discussing it with Trump.
The former president has threatened to skip one or both of the first Republican debates scheduled for the summer, with the first to be hosted by Carlson’s former network, Fox News.
Although Carlson’s contract with Fox News could limit his ability to pursue other ventures until the end of 2024, a source close to Carlson claimed that he might be willing to forgo millions of dollars owed to him by the company to start a new job sooner.
Several smaller conservative media outlets have reportedly approached Carlson.
Carlson’s departure from Fox News came shortly after the network settled a $780 million lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems over its coverage of the 2020 election and Trump’s claims of election fraud.
Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Carlson’s private comments about the network and its leadership led to his ouster.
Fox News has not publicly explained its decision to part ways with Carlson, only stating that the decision was mutual.
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