Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is reportedly looking at moderating an alternate GOP debate for the Republican primary.
The former Fox News host has allegedly talked with former president Donald Trump about moderating a debate outside of the Republican National Committee debate system, the Washington Post reported.
Fox News is scheduled to host the first official primary debate, which Trump, who launched a re-election campaign late last year, has suggested he may not attend.
Fired Fox News host Tucker Carlson wants to be more than a podcaster.
He has spoken to Trump about a candidate forum and would forfeit millions owed in his Fox contract. https://t.co/Q9FxtyeGxA
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 4, 2023
Despite Carlson’s recent ousting from the outlet, the former host’s contract reportedly runs through the end of 2024, which could prevent Carlson from continuing work elsewhere.
Carlson may accept less money than he is owed per his contract with Fox News to resume working with a different outlet or independently, though the former host’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, did not respond for comment, per the Washington Post.
“If I’m sitting in his seat right now, I’m plotting really my own media company, how I want to build it,” said former Fox News and CNN executive Joel Cheatwood of Carlson. “Whether you like him or not, there are very few individual brands out there that you can almost guarantee an incredibly significant following from day one.”
The former Fox News host has received offers from Trinity Broadcasting Network, One America News Network (OAN), and Newsmax.
Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy has reportedly approached the former Fox News host and proposed a rebranding of the outlet under Carlson’s name.
“He could do very well and find an audience immediately, and he could earn a good living and never have to leave his home studio,” Ken LaCorte, a former digital-side executive for Fox News said of Carlson resuming work independent of an outlet.
“Tucker’s too gifted a writer and host not to put those talents to use every day,” said Vince Coglianese, a friend of Carlson who serves as editorial director for the publication he co-founded, the Daily Caller. “I don’t know what format he’ll end up in, but I’m confident he’ll be a massive success — which will be good for the country. Anything that breaks the corporate stranglehold on our debates is a huge win.”
Carlson addressed news of his departure from Fox News in an April 26 Twitter video.
“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,” Carlson said of his time away from his nightly show, Tucker Carlson Tonight.
The former host continued by criticizing legacy media and television for avoiding debates on consequential issues like war and civil liberties and instead focusing on inconsequential debates that viewers would forget about within five years.
“True things prevail,” Carlson concluded. “See you soon.”
