Tucker Carlson is breaking his silence following Fox News‘ announcement that he and the network are parting ways.
Without mentioning his Fox departure directly, the right-wing television personality took to Twitter Thursday to share a video statement.
“One of the first things you realize, when you step outside the noise for a few days, is how many genuinely nice people there are in this country and decent people who really care about what’s true,” Carlson said, adding that “the other thing you notice when you take a little time off is how unbelievably stupid most of the debates you see on television are.”
“They’re completely irrelevant,” he continued. “They mean nothing. In five years we won’t even remember that we had them. Trust me, as someone who’s participated.”
Carlson then alleged that the major political parties in the United States and their donors collude to shut down discussion on “undeniably big topics” that “will define our future,” such as war, civil liberties, emerging science, demographic change, corporate power and natural resources.
“This moment is too inherently ridiculous to continue, so it won’t,” he said. “When honest people say what’s true calmly and without embarrassment, they become powerful. At the same time, the liars who’ve been trying to silence them shrink, and they become weaker.”
Carlson said there aren’t many places where American can speak honestly and said he will see his fans soon.
“Where can you still find Americans saying true things?” he said. “There aren’t many places left, but there are some, and that’s enough. As long as you can hear the words, there is hope. See you soon.”
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Carlson’s last hosting duty for his prime-time conservative opinion show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was Friday, Fox said. An interim show, consisting of rotating Fox News personalities, will fill the 8 ET time slot until a new host is named.
“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” Fox said.
Carlson, 53, did not telegraph the news on Friday’s show, and Fox never gave him the opportunity to address his viewers. Instead, he signed off from what turned out to be his final show with, “We’ll be back on Monday; in the meantime have the best weekend.”
Tucker Carlson leaves Fox News in wake of Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit
Carlson became Fox’s most popular personality after replacing Bill O’Reilly, who was fired in 2016 after settling a sexual harassment investigation.
Network spokespersons didn’t respond to a request to elaborate on the reasons for his departure, but it quickly followed last week’s $787.5 million payment Fox agreed to make to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion’s suit accused Fox News of recklessly airing false election claims and conspiracy theories following the 2020 presidential election, with Carlson’s revealed text messages front and center in the case.
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