Tucker Carlson has publicly supported former President Donald Trump after his conviction on 34 felony charges related to the hush-money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. The Manhattan jury’s verdict has resulted in a wide array of responses from Trump’s backers and critics, underscoring the existing partisan rift in U.S. politics.
On May 30, 2024, Carlson utilized platform X to voice his opinion on the landmark verdict, stating, “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 vocal Trump supporter, indicated that the verdict signifies “the end of the fairest justice system in the world” and that those who support the verdict pose a threat to society.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another prominent Trump supporter, reiterated Carlson’s points. She shared his post and added her thoughts, blaming “radical leftists and deep state operatives” for planning the trial. Greene asserted, “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 has been the subject of considerable media attention, ended with Trump being found guilty of all charges related to falsifying business records to hide a payment to Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. Trump has strongly denied any misconduct and labeled the trial as a “rigged, disgraceful” process. Speaking to his supporters outside the courthouse, Trump said, “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 have also given their takes on the verdict, framing it as a politically motivated attack meant to harm Trump’s chances in the forthcoming election. Pirro suggested the conviction would “energize” Trump’s base, while Ingraham raised concerns about a future where political rivals are imprisoned. Hannity encouraged viewers to “render the final verdict” on Election Day, aligning with the wider narrative among conservative media figures that the trial was politically driven.
Despite being convicted, Trump continues to play a major role in the 2024 presidential election. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just before the Republican National Convention, which has added fuel to claims from his supporters that the trial’s timing was strategically designed to affect his campaign.
In an unexpected turn, Carlson, who was previously dismissed from Fox News in April, continues to show his support for Trump despite past private communications that revealed his lack of respect for the former president. These messages, disclosed in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News, revealed Carlson describing Trump as a “demonic force” and expressing his desire to stop covering Trump on a daily basis.
