Tucker Carlson, host of Fox News, has expressed his approval of the current turmoil surrounding the selection of a House Speaker among congressional Republicans.
In a recent statement, Carlson described the situation as “refreshing.”
Tucker Carlson Comments on Ongoing Speakership Battle
On Tuesday, House Republicans were unable to successfully elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as their new leader, resulting in division within the party that has yet to be resolved. Voting will continue on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Carlson has expressed support for McCarthy’s struggle to gain the support of his party, which has involved three rounds of unsuccessful voting and 20 members of the caucus opposing him.
Carlson has urged McCarthy to take concrete action, such as releasing information about the events of January 6 to the public and investigating the FBI for corruption, if he hopes to secure the position of House Speaker.
The host pointed out the ongoing race for the speakership has been widely perceived as “embarrassing,” particularly on social media.
It sounds like Tucker Carlson is speaking directly to Kevin McCarthy tonight, listing demands in exchange for the House speakership:
1. Release all files related to January 6 and
2. Put Thomas Massie in charge of a new Frank Church committee. pic.twitter.com/gibneAXH7h— Kat Abu (@abughazalehkat) January 4, 2023
According to Carlson, the struggle among Republicans to choose their leader is a sign of a healthy democracy, unlike the Democrats who consistently fall in line behind a pre-selected candidate.
The Fox News host continued, stating although it may be chaotic, the current situation is exactly what democracy is supposed to look like – a series of open debates about important issues.
On the other hand, Carlson criticized McCarthy as a skilled politician, but one who lacks any real ideological convictions and is only motivated by personal ambition.
Carlson Acknowledges McCarthy Has Some Strengths
According to the host, McCarthy’s true loyalty lies with the lobbyists in Washington, rather than with any particular political ideology, which can be frustrating for those who hold strong beliefs.
Despite his criticisms, Carlson acknowledged that McCarthy has some strengths as a politician and is well-suited for the challenging role of House Speaker in a closely divided House.
However, he pointed out the group of 20 Republicans who have opposed McCarthy’s bid for the position have not yet proposed an alternative candidate, making the path forward uncertain.
The host suggested that McCarthy still has options available to him to try to secure the speakership.
Tucker Carlson provided some poignant insight on the U.S. Speakership negotiations tonight. Here’s a clip: pic.twitter.com/PJ6spCM7fD
— GARepublicanAssembly (@GARepAssembly) January 4, 2023
According to Carlson, McCarthy must take immediate action to release all documents and videos related to the Capitol breach on January 6 and the subsequent actions taken by Congress.
He stressed that this information should not be filtered through a committee or released piecemeal, but rather made fully available to the public.
In addition, Carlson suggested that McCarthy pledge to appoint Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian from Kentucky, to lead a new committee similar to the Frank Church Committee, which investigated the corruption of the FBI in the past.
The Frank Church Committee was headed by Senator Frank Church, a Democrat from Idaho, who was shocked by the revelations of the National Security Agency’s surveillance state in the 1970s.
