In a scathing rebuke, Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, launched a tirade against the network after it issued an apology and fired the producer responsible for a controversial headline that appeared during the arrest of former President Donald Trump. The headline seemed to depict Vice President Joe Biden as a “wannabe dictator.”
Immediately following Trump’s appearance in federal court, Fox News aired a bold chyron in all-caps, stating, “Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.”
In response to the ensuing backlash, Fox News released a statement on Wednesday, assuring that the chyron was swiftly taken down and dealt with accordingly.
However, according to Carlson, the impact of those words was profound, despite their brief on-screen presence of fewer than 30 seconds. He claimed that panic ensued among the female executives at Fox News. Carlson revealed that the producer responsible for the controversial chyron, a highly respected individual within the organization, resigned within 24 hours of the scandal erupting.
Carlson’s subsequent remarks on his Twitter program revolved around drawing comparisons between Biden and a “wannabe dictator.”
It is evident that Joe Biden is not a potential dictator. While he may exhibit authoritarian tendencies, it does not justify his alleged efforts to imprison his political opponents for life. Carlson chuckled at the notion, emphasizing that imprisoning adversaries falls short of the criteria for being labeled a “wannabe dictator.”
Moving on, Carlson argued that true would-be dictators enrich themselves, their families, and their loyalists, even as their nations suffer from growing poverty and desperation. They engage in corruption, accepting bribes from corporations and other autocrats, while diverting funds from public initiatives. Carlson highlighted the blatant display of ill-gotten wealth, where some citizens struggle to make ends meet while others reside in opulent mansions far removed from the realities of everyday life.
The talk show host added that in a dictatorship, people are not allowed to gather in large numbers to protest against the ruling regime. Any attempt to do so results in arrest by state security forces, even years later. Carlson illustrated this point by showing footage of law enforcement detaining a protester’s mother during a demonstration in Washington, DC.
Furthermore, Carlson asserted that in a dictatorship, individuals are not even allowed to voice their dissent from the confines of their own homes. Online expressions of disapproved views are subject to censorship, and those who dig too deep or share inconvenient truths face suppression and marginalization.
While supporters of the dictatorship are permitted to possess and carry firearms, including in public spaces, Carlson contended that individuals who oppose the regime are stripped of their right to self-defense. He mockingly urged those who dissent to relinquish their weapons, insinuating the suppressive nature of such regimes.
Additionally, Carlson highlighted the creation of personality cults around dictators, which enables them to overlook glaring issues and problems.
Dismissing the notion that Biden claims ownership over American children in his video celebrating LGBTQ Americans, Carlson clarified that the President’s statement indicates a collective responsibility for the well-being of all children in the country. Carlson sarcastically remarked that Americans share custody of the nation’s children with Biden, as if dividing parenting duties.
In closing, Carlson analogized a nation to a large family, with Biden assumed as the father figure. He warned that any suggestion of a dictatorship would prompt an immediate disavowal, urging caution in labeling it as such.