“He offered to stay for the customary two weeks, but Fox told him to clear out his desk and leave immediately.”
Just days after Fox News displayed and then apologized for a chyron calling Biden a "wannabe dictator," Tucker Carlson slammed his former employer for the actions it took to rectify the situation.
"Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested," the Tuesday night chyron read after 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump was arraigned on charges from Biden’s Department of Justice.
"Those words were up for less than 30 seconds, but the effect was immediate," Carlson said. "Inside Fox, the women who run the network panicked."
Carlson said they first "scolded the producer who put the banner on the screen," and then less than a day later, "he resigned."
"He had been at Fox for more than a decade. He was considered one of the most capable people in the building. He offered to stay for the customary two weeks, but Fox told him to clear out his desk and leave immediately."
The company then issued a public apology for the chyron that was on the screen for less than 30 seconds, stating "the chyron was taken down immediately," adding that the issue was "addressed."
"That was all true, but it was not enough to save Fox News from the ensuing scandal. For a time in the rest of the media, Fox’s assessment of Donald Trump's arrest seem to overshadow Trump's arrest itself," said Carlson.
Carlson noted "perennial MSNBC guest and full-time Ukraine promoter" Alexander Vindman, who called for Fox News to be banned on all military bases.
https://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1669037232466845708?s=20
"In other words, Joe Biden must ban all criticism of himself because that’s what non-dictators do."
"And so it was all over the internet. Democrats were very, very angry. But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false, why the hysteria? Lies don’t seem to bother anyone anymore," said Carlson.
"If some cable news producer had called Joe Biden a genius or accused of being secretly Sudanese, would anyone be yelling about it? Would Fox News have apologized for it? Probably not. But calling Joe Biden a wannabe dictator, that stunk. So you've got to wonder if you're being honest with yourself is Joe Biden a wannabe dictator?" Carlson questioned.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
