In a prime-time digital power play, Tucker Carlson interviewed former president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump during the same time slot as Fox News’ live Republican primary debate on Wednesday night.
Both Tucker and Trump share their own set of problems with Fox considering Tucker’s recent firing from the network and Trump’s frustrations with their coverage of the primary election. In a potential attempt to divert views from the network’s live debate, the duo chose to air a prerecorded interview on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Tucker claimed Trump approached him to do the interview since his audience was “far larger” than cable news (RELATED: “The Death of Cable TV – 3 Reasons Why It’s Still Alive”). By the end of the 46-minute premiere, Tucker’s video upload accrued over 75 million views according to the site’s metrics.
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Highlights from the one-on-one:
Fox and Friends? Apparently Not.
Trump claimed Fox is a network that “isn’t particularly friendly” to him, attacking their backing of “Ron DeSanctimonius,” his nickname for presidential candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose campaign Trump said is a “lost cause.” He likened Fox’s current disapproval of him to their feud during the 2016 GOP primary race, and termed Fox News as his “opposition.”
Did Epstein Kill Himself?
Tucker asked Trump if he thought Jeffrey Epstein actually killed himself, which Tucker suggested Trump’s former Attorney General Bill Barr was covering up. Trump demurred, saying since Epstein had dirt on many powerful people it was possible that he was assassinated, but that it was also possible he killed himself because of how bad his life had gotten — going from a Palm Beach mansion to a prison cell.
Trump also commented on Barr, calling him a “petrified” individual who did not do his job.
.@TuckerCarlson Asks Donald Trump Straight-Up, "Do You Think Epstein Killed Himself?"
"He was killed," asserted Carlson. "Your Attorney General [Bill Barr] clearly lied about the Epstein death." pic.twitter.com/5tFsQGib8G
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) August 24, 2023
Joe Biden: Most Corrupt U.S. President of All Time?
Trump predicted Democrats will hold a primary election against president Joe Biden, stating neither Biden nor Vice President Kamala Harris are fit to lead. Trump slammed Biden further, claiming he is a compromised “Manchurian candidate,” and the most corrupt U.S. president of all time for his weak stance on China.
Trump affirmed he was no friend of Xi Jinping and would keep him from controlling the Panama Canal.
WATCH: President Trump BLASTS Joe Biden’s corruption and incompetence:
“I think he is the most corrupt president we’ve ever had, and he also has the distinction of being the most incompetent.” pic.twitter.com/93E5t4yinn
— Tea Party Patriots (@TPPatriots) August 24, 2023
Cheating, Stealing, and Bitching
Tucker attacked Chris Wallace, calling him a “bitchy little man” as Trump agreed, maintaining Wallace was unfair to him during the 2020 presidential debate for discounting Trump’s allegations that Hunter Biden received payments from foreign governments.
The duo also discussed the left’s push for mail-in ballots, claiming the movement is simply an attempt to cheat and steal elections with Trump calling for a return to paper ballots with voter ID requirements.
Anytime you have mail-in ballots, you're gonna have massive cheating. – President Donald Trump⁰
Watch👇the entire interview:⁰https://t.co/rmhuVNnVmo pic.twitter.com/MtMqfd2qx3
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) August 24, 2023
Peeking Behind the CIA Curtain
Tucker questioned if Trump felt he had knowledge about what intelligence agencies, particularly the CIA, were doing while he was president. Trump replied no, he did not have full knowledge of the CIA’s activities, even though he felt they maintained a good relationship.
However, Trump clarified that the assassination of ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi was conducted by the CIA while the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was orchestrated by the U.S. military.
Did Trump know everything the CIA was doing? pic.twitter.com/CC94HqQGEi
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 24, 2023
Trump’s Takes on Loyalty
Tucker attempted to steer Trump into denouncing former Vice President Mike Pence for running against him. Trump chose to hold back from harshly criticizing Pence, claiming that Pence merely received “bad advice” during his decision to ratify the 2020 election results without sending them back to the state legislatures.
But, Trump did claim Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) only won his 2020 race against Amy McGrath because Trump endorsed him, which backfired when McConnell later agreed to impeach Trump. According to the former president, Republicans only allow themselves to be led by McConnell because he has access to Republican Political Action Committees (PACs) and the power to determine who receives their funding.
Trump went on to identify McConnell as a “bad guy,” emphasizing that there is less loyalty in politics than in normal life.
Trump: "Mitch McConnell was trying to get senators to impeach me. Guys that are subservient to him because he gives them money. That's the only form of leadership he's got." pic.twitter.com/U6ej26TLMC
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 24, 2023
Sticking to Securing the Border
Trump noted that securing the border will be his number one priority in 2024 along with sending criminals back to their home countries.
He claimed migrants, including “terrorists,” from 149 countries, entered the United States in 2022. Trump continued to highlight that South American countries are “emptying” their prisons and mental institutions into America, telling their inmates to emigrate.
Tucker also questioned Trump on the possibility of an impending civil war:
Trump addresses the potential of a civil war and open conflict: #GOPDebate @TuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/3kLBfVj8Bm
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) August 24, 2023
Although it is still unclear who truly won the first GOP presidential debate, Trump’s influence on the narrative remains as potent as ever with 74 million tuning in to hear his take.
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