Tucker Carlson, a well-known supporter of former President Donald Trump, has defended Trump in light of his conviction on 34 felony charges. The charges stem from a hush-money case involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The conviction, handed down by a jury in New York City, has elicited a wide range of responses from both Trump’s allies and adversaries, underscoring the ongoing partisan polarization in US politics.
Carlson voiced his opinion on the matter on Thursday, May 30, 2024, on 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 also alleged that the conviction signifies “the end of the fairest justice system in the world” and suggested that those who uphold the verdict pose a threat to the public.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), another vocal advocate for Trump, supported Carlson’s views. She shared his post on X, adding her own commentary. She blamed “radical leftists and deep state operatives” for the trial, asking, “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, a subject of considerable media attention, ended with Trump found guilty on all charges of falsifying business records to hide a payment made to Daniels during the 2016 presidential race. Trump staunchly rejects any wrongdoing and has called the trial a “rigged, disgraceful” proceeding. Speaking to his supporters outside the courthouse, Trump stated, “The true judgment will be made by the people on November 5th, and they are fully aware of what transpired here.”
Various Fox News commentators have also shared their views on the verdict. Hosts Jeanine Pirro, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity all portrayed the conviction as a politically motivated attack aimed at hurting Trump’s prospects in the forthcoming election. Pirro argued the conviction would “energize” Trump’s base, Ingraham spoke of a future where political rivals are imprisoned, and Hannity encouraged viewers to “render the final verdict” on Election Day.
Despite the guilty verdict, Trump remains a prominent contender in the 2024 presidential race. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, shortly before the Republican National Convention, a timing that has amplified claims by his supporters that the trial was tactically timed to affect his campaign.
Interestingly, Carlson, who was previously dismissed from Fox News in April, continues to publicly back Trump despite private communications that reveal his earlier distaste for the former president. These communications, revealed during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News, found Carlson labeling Trump as a “demonic force” and expressing his readiness to stop covering Trump on a daily basis.
