The Murdoch family’s deep-seated hatred for President Trump led them to approach Tucker Carlson about running against him in 2024, promising full backing from their powerful media empire, including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal.
Key Takeaways
- Tucker Carlson revealed that Lachlan Murdoch approached him about running for president against Trump in May 2023, just one month after his firing from Fox News.
- The Murdochs offered to leverage their entire media empire, including Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, to support Carlson’s potential candidacy.
- Despite being approached, Carlson declined the offer, stating he “would never get elected” and that he “likes Trump,” highlighting divisions within conservative media circles.
- This revelation exposes the extent of the Murdoch family’s opposition to President Trump and their willingness to intervene directly in American politics.
- The incident reveals significant behind-the-scenes power plays in conservative media that could have dramatically altered the political landscape.
The Murdoch Anti-Trump Campaign Exposed
In a startling revelation that confirms long-suspected tensions between media moguls and the president, Tucker Carlson has publicly disclosed that the Murdoch family approached him about challenging Donald Trump in the presidential race. This proposition came just one month after Carlson’s abrupt dismissal from his highly-rated Fox News program in April 2023. The timing suggests a calculated effort by the media family to undermine Trump’s candidacy by putting forward a popular conservative figure who could potentially split the MAGA base.
“The Murdochs hate Trump. No one hates Trump more than the Murdochs. I got fired in April of 2023. In May of 2023, they asked me to run for president against Trump and said they would back me. I’m not running … I would never get elected. And I like Trump,” said Tucker Carlson.
The offer reportedly came directly from Lachlan Murdoch, who has assumed control of much of the family’s media empire following his father Rupert’s stepping back from day-to-day operations. According to Carlson, the promise of support extended beyond just Fox News to include the full weight of Murdoch-owned properties, which represent some of the most influential conservative media outlets in America. This coordinated approach demonstrates how the establishment media was prepared to use its considerable resources to shape the presidential race.
Corporate Media Power Play Thwarted
The Murdoch family’s reported attempt to recruit Carlson represents a significant behind-the-scenes effort to influence American politics through their vast media holdings. As owners of Fox News Media, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other influential news organizations, the family wields tremendous power to shape public opinion and political narratives. Their willingness to leverage these assets against President Trump reveals the lengths to which corporate media interests will go to maintain their preferred political order.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Lachlan Murdoch said, ‘You should run for president. We’ll back you.’ The whole thing,” Carlson revealed, adding that the offer included backing from “Not just Fox, but you know, Wall Street Journal…We’ll back you.”
The timing of this approach is particularly noteworthy, coming shortly after Fox News agreed to pay nearly $800 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit related to 2020 election coverage. Carlson’s firing was widely seen as part of the fallout from this settlement, making the subsequent recruitment effort all the more remarkable. It suggests that despite the legal and financial setbacks, the Murdochs remained focused on their political objectives – specifically, preventing President Trump from returning to office.
Dividing MAGA: Media Strategy Revealed
The revelation about the Murdochs’ approach to Carlson comes amid ongoing tensions within the broader MAGA movement, particularly regarding foreign policy. Carlson has been critical of certain aspects of President Trump’s approach to international conflicts, especially regarding the Israel-Iran situation. These differences have occasionally spilled into public view, with Trump reportedly calling Carlson “kooky” over some of his positions, though both men maintain respect for each other overall.
“Carlson appeared to dismiss the idea of running for president, adding, ‘I’d never get elected, plus I like Trump.'”
Despite declining the Murdochs’ offer, Carlson remains a highly influential voice in conservative media through his independent platform. His decision to reveal this behind-the-scenes power play exposes the depths of establishment opposition to President Trump and highlights the complex relationships between media figures, corporate interests, and political movements. As the political landscape continues to evolve, these revelations provide crucial context for understanding the forces attempting to shape American conservatism from within and without.
