Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

Tucker Carlson Recalls ‘Evolution’ Of His ‘Feelings About Donald Trump’ Since He Came On Political Scene

Screenshot/YouTube/Hot Mics with Billy Bush

Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson on a Monday podcast explained how his views about President Donald Trump has evolved since he first entered politics.

Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign announcement speech in 2015 at Trump Tower in New York City focused on opposing illegal immigration and ending U.S. involvement in wars in the Middle East. “Hot Mics with Billy Bush” host Billy Bush asked Carlson to describe his “evolution” on Trump, with the DCNF co-founder noting he was supportive of these agendas from the outset. 

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“Well, I’ve had a lot of different feelings about Donald Trump. Obviously, I knew him 20 years ago because he was in our business … So yeah, you run across Trump and I always thought he was amusing. I was actually an early — pretty aggressive — early supporter of his program,” Carlson said. “I felt that immigration was wrecking the country. It turned out to be right. And I felt that the Middle Eastern wars were, like, completely evil. And I still think that. And that’s what he was running on — immigration and no more pointless wars in the Middle East. And I strongly supported that.”

“There were moments when he, you know, infuriated me along the way, and I was frustrated. And I’m sure that’ll happen again … But basically, the Trump idea that, you know, we should have a democracy, that people should kind of get what they want — and like open borders and tranny worship is not what anyone voted for at all — and like, stop,” he added. “Like, the government should be responsive to the people … I own this country. I’m a shareholder. I’m not your slave. That is, was — from my perspective — the core message of the Trump campaign. I support that. I have always supported that.”

Trump has championed policies with widespread public support, including preventing biological males from competing in female sports, deporting illegal immigrants and reducing government waste.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us,” Trump said in his 2016 announcement speech, which took place on June 16, 2015. “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

Carlson also told British journalist Piers Morgan during a January interview that Trump could become “the most effective president” in U.S. history if he is able to evade “a war with Iran” and “a deepening war with Russia.”