Paperwork launched in current weeks as a part of a $1.6 billion defamation go well with in opposition to Fox Information by Dominion Voting Programs have revealed extraordinary personal communications and depositions from the community’s star hosts and executives. In these statements, lots of them expressed disbelief about President Donald J. Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, regardless that the community continued to advertise lots of these lies on the air.
Whatever the end result of the case, which is scheduled to go to trial in April, one host particularly — Tucker Carlson — seems to have a tough street to navigate along with his viewers. In his personal messages, Mr. Carlson, who typically gives robust help of Republicans on the air, repeatedly confirmed contempt for Mr. Trump and a few of his closest aides.
In a press release, Fox Information stated the truth that Dominion was utilizing the contents of the authorized filings “to twist and even misattribute quotes to the best ranges of our firm is actually past the pale.”
Listed below are 5 examples of Mr. Carlson’s views on Mr. Trump from the paperwork:
Nov. 6, 2020
1. On Trump’s Enterprise Historical past
As votes have been being counted within the 2020 presidential election, Mr. Carlson texted along with his producer, Alex Pfeiffer, fretting about viewers turning away from Fox Information after the community referred to as Arizona for President Biden.
Alex Pfeiffer: Trump has a fairly low price at success in his enterprise ventures.
Tucker Carlson: That’s for certain. All of them fail. What he’s good at is destroying issues. He’s the undisputed world champion of that.
Nov. 10, 2020
2. On Trump’s Plan to Skip Biden’s Inauguration
A employees member texted Mr. Carlson to say they’d heard Mr. Trump was planning to not attend the inauguration, an vital image of the peaceable switch of energy.
Carlson: I’d heard that in regards to the inauguration. Arduous to consider. So harmful.
Carlson: It’s disgusting. I’m attempting to look away.
Nov. 23, 2020
3. On His Interactions With Trump’s Workforce Over Sidney Powell, a Trump Lawyer
Mr. Carlson texts with the Fox Information host Laura Ingraham about Sidney Powell, a lawyer for Mr. Trump and one of many largest promoters of the unfounded election fraud claims.
Carlson: I needed to attempt to make the WH disavow her, which they clearly ought to have executed lengthy earlier than.
Laura Ingraham: No severe lawyer might consider what they have been saying.
Carlson: However they stated nothing in public. Fairly disgusting. And now Trump, I realized this morning, is sitting again and letting them lose the senate. He doesn’t care. I care.
Jan. 4, 2021
4. On His Need to Transfer On From Trump
Mr. Carlson texts with members of his employees, two months after the 2020 election and two days earlier than the rebellion on the Capitol constructing, about wanting ahead to not having to cowl Mr. Trump.
Carlson: We’re very, very near with the ability to ignore Trump most nights. I actually can’t wait.
Carlson: I hate him passionately.
Jan. 7, 2021
5. On the Aftermath of the Capitol Riots
After the riot on the Capitol on Jan. 6, Mr. Carlson texts with Mr. Pfeiffer about Mr. Trump’s culpability within the rebellion and take care of viewers who nonetheless help him. It was two weeks earlier than the inauguration of President Biden.
Carlson: Trump has two weeks left. As soon as he’s out, he turns into incalculably much less highly effective, even within the minds of his supporters.
Carlson: He’s a demonic drive, a destroyer. However he’s not going to destroy us. I’ve been fascinated with this day-after-day for 4 years.
Pfeiffer: You’re proper. I don’t need to let him destroy me both. [REDACTED]. The Trump anger spiral is vicious.
Carlson: That’s for certain. Lethal. It nearly consumed me in November when Sidney Powell attacked us. It was very tough to regain emotional management, however I knew I needed to. We’ve obtained two weeks left. We are able to do that.
