Following the conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts in a case related to hush-money payments involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels, Tucker Carlson has voiced his support for Trump. The verdict, handed down by a Manhattan jury, ignited a mixture of reactions from Trump’s proponents and opponents, underscoring the profound partisan split in U.S. politics.
On May 30, 2024, Carlson aired his thoughts on the significant verdict on platform X. He stated, “Bringing in the Third World makes us the Third World. This is what just happened. This won’t stop Trump. He will win the election unless he is eliminated first.” Carlson, a known Trump aficionado, also asserted that the verdict symbolized “the end of the fairest justice system in the world” and hinted that anyone supporting the verdict poses a risk to society.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another prominent Trump advocate, resonated with Carlson’s sentiments. She reposted his comments, adding her own, accusing “radical leftists and deep state operatives” of masterminding the trial. Greene questioned, “What will they do now that President Trump is leading in the polls, and their efforts are failing? You don’t see this corruption even in unstable countries, yet it’s happening here. Their biggest fear is another Trump presidency. Now, more than ever, President Trump needs your support.”
The trial, which attracted considerable media attention, culminated in Trump being declared guilty on all charges related to falsifying business documents to disguise a payment made to Daniels during the 2016 presidential race. Trump has persistently denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the trial as a “rigged, disgraceful” process. Addressing his supporters outside the courthouse, Trump asserted,”The true judgment will be made by the people on November 5th, and they are fully aware of what transpired here.”
Fox News commentators, including Jeanine Pirro, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity, also aired their views on the verdict. They framed it as a partisan assault intended to harm Trump’s prospects in the forthcoming election. Pirro suggested the conviction would “energize” Trump’s base, while Ingraham cautioned about a future where political rivals are imprisoned. Hannity encouraged viewers to “render the final verdict” on Election Day, echoing a wider belief among conservative media figures that the trial was politically driven.
Despite the conviction, Trump continues to be a major player in the 2024 presidential race. His sentencing is slated for July 11, just a few days prior to the Republican National Convention. This scheduling has amplified claims from his followers that the trial was tactically timed to influence his campaign.
Surprisingly, Carlson, who was removed from Fox News in April, continues to back Trump, even though private communications disclosed during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News revealed his previous contempt for the ex-president. In these communications, Carlson referred to Trump as a “demonic force” and expressed his readiness to stop covering Trump on a nightly basis.