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 the network’s star hosts and executives. In those statements, many of them accused President Donald J. They expressed disbelief at Trump’s false claims, though the network continued to air more lies.
Regardless of the outcome of the case, which is set to go to trial in April, one host in particular — Tucker Carlson — appears to have a tricky path to navigate with his audience. In his private messages, Mr. Trump, who typically provides strong support for Republicans on the air. Carlson, Mr. He repeatedly showed contempt for Trump and some of his closest aides.
Here are five examples from the documentation:
November 6, 2020
1. Trump’s business history
While the votes were being counted in the 2020 presidential election, Mr. Carlson texted his producer, Alex Pfeiffer, upset about viewers drifting away from Fox News after the network called Arizona for President Biden.
Alex Pifer: Trump has a very low rate of success in his business ventures.
Tucker Carlson: Of course. They all fail. He is good at destroying things. He is the undisputed world champion.
November 10, 2020
2. Trump’s plan to skip Biden’s inauguration
A staffer texted Mr Carlson saying they had heard Mr Trump planned not to attend the inauguration, a key symbol of a peaceful transition of power.
Carlson: I heard about the inauguration. Hard to believe. Very destructive.
Carlson: It’s disgusting. I try to look away.
November 23, 2020
3. On Trump lawyer Sidney Powell in his dealings with Trump’s team
Mr. Carlson, along with Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham, said Mr. Writes about Sidney Powell, Trump’s lawyer and one of the biggest promoters of baseless election fraud claims.
Carlson: I had to try and get the WH to turn her down, which they should have done a long time ago.
Laura Ingraham: No serious lawyer could believe what they were saying.
Carlson: But they didn’t say anything publicly. Very disgusting. Now Trump, I learned this morning, is sitting back and letting them lose the Senate. He didn’t care. I’m concerned.
Jan. 4, 2021
4. His willingness to move on from Trump
Mr. Carlson, two months after the 2020 election and two days before the riot in the Capitol building, Mr. He texted with his staff about not talking about Trump.
Carlson: We are very, very close to ignoring Trump most nights. I really can’t wait.
Carlson: I hate him.
Jan. 7, 2021
5. Aftermath of the Capital Riot
After rioting at the Capitol on January 6, Mr. Carlson, Mr. With Pfeiffer, Mr. He spoke about Trump’s crime and how to deal with an audience that still supports him. It was two weeks before President Biden was inaugurated.
Carlson: Trump has two weeks left. Once he leaves, he becomes incalculably less powerful, even in the minds of his supporters.
Carlson: He is a demonic force, a destroyer. But he will not destroy us. I have been thinking about this every day for four years.
Piper: You are right. I don’t want him to destroy me. [REDACTED]. Trump’s anger spiral is vicious.
Carlson: Of course. Deadly. When Sidney Powell hit us in November it almost consumed me. Regaining emotional control was very difficult, but I knew I had to do it. We still have two weeks left. We can do this.
