Tucker Carlson’s private contempt for Trump: ‘I hate him passionately’

Documents released in recent weeks as part of a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems have revealed extraordinary private communications and depositions from star hosts and network executives. In these statements, many expressed disbelief at President Donald J. Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, even as the network continued to promote many of these lies to the public. antenna.

Regardless of the outcome of the case, which is due to go to trial in April, one host in particular – Tucker Carlson – seems to have a tough road ahead with his audience. In his private messages, Mr. Carlson, who usually provides strong support for Republicans on the air, repeatedly showed contempt for Mr. Trump and some of his closest aides.

Here are five examples from the documents:

November 6, 2020

1. On Trump’s Business History

As the votes were counted in the 2020 presidential election, Mr Carlson texted his producer, Alex Pfeiffer, worried that viewers were turning away from Fox News after the network called the Arizona for President Biden.

Alex Pfeiffer: Trump has a fairly low success rate in his business ventures.

Tucker-Carlson: That’s for sure. All fail. What he can do is destroy things. He is the undisputed world champion.

November 10, 2020

2. On Trump’s plan to ignore Biden’s nomination

A staffer texted Mr. Carlson to say he had heard that Mr. Trump planned not to attend the inauguration, an important symbol of the peaceful transfer of power.

Karlson: I heard that about the inauguration. Hard to believe. So destructive.

Karlson: It’s disgusting. I try to look away.

November 23, 2020

3. On his interactions with Trump’s team about Sidney Powell, a Trump lawyer

Mr Carlson is texting Fox News host Laura Ingraham about Sidney Powell, Mr Trump’s lawyer and one of the biggest promoters of unsubstantiated voter fraud allegations.

Karlson: I had to try to get WH to disown her, which they obviously should have done long before.

Laura Ingraham: No serious lawyer could believe what they were saying.

Karlson: But they said nothing in public. Pretty disgusting. And now Trump, I learned this morning, sits down and lets them lose the Senate. He does not care. I worry.

January 4, 2021

4. On his desire to leave Trump

Mr. Carlson is texting his staffers, two months after the 2020 election and two days before the Capitol uprising, about the expectation of not having to cover for Mr. Trump.

Karlson: We’re very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I really can’t wait.

Karlson: I hate him passionately.

January 7, 2021

5. Aftermath of the Capitol Riots

After the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, Mr. Carlson texts Mr. Pfeiffer about Mr. Trump’s culpability in the insurrection and how to deal with viewers who still support him. It was two weeks before President Biden’s inauguration.

Karlson: Trump has two more weeks. Once released, he becomes infinitely less powerful, even in the minds of his followers.

Karlson: It is a demonic force, a destroyer. But it will not destroy us. I’ve thought about it every day for four years.

Pfeiffer: You’re right. I don’t want to let it destroy me either. [REDACTED]. Trump’s spiral of anger is vicious.

Karlson: That’s for sure. Deadly. It almost consumed me in November when Sidney Powell attacked us. It was very difficult to regain emotional control, but I knew I had to. We have two weeks left. We can do it.