Tucker Carlson and Rupert Murdoch nearly crossed paths in a dramatic moment on Wednesday at the Trade Hotel in Milwaukee, where both have been staying during the Republican National Convention.
Sources reveal that the potentially uncomfortable encounter was narrowly avoided when Murdoch's aides quickly intervened, forming a human barrier around the Fox News founder just as Carlson was approaching.
Carlson's departure from Fox News in April 2023, following the costly Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit, has left a notable strain in their relationship.
During his tenure at Fox, Carlson made controversial statements, such as falsely attributing George Floyd’s death to a drug overdose.
Unsurprisingly, Carlson appears to be using the RNC as a platform to subtly challenge the Murdochs, including making a surprise visit to Fox's studio at the convention as a guest of Donald Trump Jr. This move reportedly displeased network executives.
A Fox News insider commented, "Tucker is trying to undermine Fox. Everyone else has moved on, but he hasn’t."
Another source described Carlson’s behaviour as reminiscent of a “frat boy,” reflecting ongoing tensions.
Meanwhile, Trump Jr. and Fox News have had their own strained relations, though some reconciliation seems to be occurring.
At a luncheon hosted by Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace, Trump Jr. was seen engaging in a "pleasant exchange" with Scott, despite earlier claims of being "banned" from Fox's broadcasts, which the network denies.
Donald Trump has maintained a good relationship with Murdoch, recently mentioning on a radio show that he frequently speaks with the media mogul, who is significantly older than President Biden.
Carlson remains under contract with Fox until the end of the year, but the network has not enforced restrictions on his public appearances.
He continues to make headlines with interviews on X, featuring controversial figures such as Vladimir Putin and Alex Jones.
Despite past criticisms of Trump, Carlson’s relationship with the former president appears strong, highlighted by his prominent speech at the convention.
Carlson recently commented on his previous critical texts about Trump, saying, “I got pissed at Trump. So? I get pissed at my wife. I’m a human being.”
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