The owner of Fox News and his son, a top deputy, held two previously undisclosed meetings with Ukraine’s president shortly before firing host Tucker Carlson – who is vehemently critical of the U.S. sending aid to the Ukrainians.
Semafor broke the news that Fox Corporation owner Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan allegedly met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy and held two separate calls to discuss the ongoing war and the death of a Fox journalist killed in action. While Carlson, who has vocally opposed efforts to transfer billions of dollars in foreign aid to the country, was not mentioned on the calls by Zelenskyy, he has been criticized by some of the president’s top deputies.
Speculation has mounted that some of the former host’s opinions had gotten him in trouble with the Murdoch family, especially as it relates to Ukraine and other foreign policy matters such as U.S. business relationships with China, which has provided tacit support to Russia during its attempt to seize neighboring Ukraine.
Former President Donald Trump, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a likely contender for the GOP nomination, have both aligned with the anti-war wing of the GOP where support for Carlson remains high. Carlson previously sent a questionnaire on the subject to all GOP presidential candidates.
Writing in an op-ed, Carlson pointed to the seemingly endless stream of cash being sent to Ukraine as its war with Russia drags into its second year and the changing of goalposts to determine what success looks like for the U.S. and its ally. Republicans who grew disillusioned with neoconservative policies in Afghanistan and Iraq have looked to Carlson for equilibrating opposition on foreign affairs.
The former Fox host drew a nightly audience of three million viewers and remains a potent prognosticator for GOP candidates hoping to win the White House next year. Fox has seen a dramatic decline in its primetime 8 p.m. viewership since Carlson’s departure.
