On Tuesday afternoon, Tucker Carlson, previously associated with Fox News, declared that he would be transitioning his show to Twitter. The announcement came amidst rumors of discussions between Carlson and Twitter CEO Elon Musk regarding a potential partnership. Carlson shared the news through a video on Twitter, expressing his concerns about the limited availability of “free speech platforms.” He described Twitter as the last significant player in the world, emphasizing its importance in shaping national discourse. Carlson highlighted Twitter’s inclusive nature, welcoming individuals from all political affiliations, which he considered a positive development. However, he also noted that much of the news content discussed on Twitter originates from media organizations that disguise their true agenda as propaganda outlets.
In the video, Carlson also mentioned the upcoming introduction of a new version of his show on Twitter, after running it for the past six and a half years. While he alluded to additional aspects that will be revealed later, he expressed his contentment with being on the platform at present, emphasizing the right to free expression. Carlson asserted that the media often misleads consumers by presenting genuine but incomplete information. He cited an example of a man being wrongfully arrested for armed robbery, highlighting that the media failed to mention his six previous arrests for the same crime, thereby attempting to deceive the audience.
Carlson’s announcement regarding his show came in the wake of a report by Axios, which stated that his supporters were prepared to launch an attack on Fox News if the network did not release him from his contract. The contract, valued at $20 million per year until January 2025, became a subject of contention. High-profile attorney Bryan Freedman, who also represents former CNN co-host Don Lemon, dismissed any notion of silencing Tucker and preventing him from communicating with his audience. The report also mentioned Carlson’s aspirations to establish his own media empire, which have been hampered by contractual obligations and restrictions. This decision to transition to Twitter followed the departure of Daily Wire presenter Matt Walsh from YouTube due to platform restrictions, which served as an influence on Carlson’s choice.