Tucker Carlson: Analyzing the Controversy Surrounding His "Wannabe Dictator" Episode
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, recently stirred up controversy with the release of the fourth episode of his Twitter show, where he labeled President Joe Biden as a "wannabe dictator." This episode caused a significant uproar, leading to Fox News issuing an apology and removing the producer responsible for the chyron. In this article, we will delve into the details of the controversy, explore Carlson's sarcastic remarks, and examine the comparisons he made between Biden and infamous dictators Saddam Hussein, Kim Il-sung, and Nicolae Ceausescu.
On Tuesday night, Fox News aired a chyron that read, "Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested." The chyron appeared below a split screen of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. The caption was only displayed for a brief period, but it had an immediate impact. Carlson revealed that the producer responsible for the chyron resigned within 24 hours, after being scolded by Fox News executives.
Following the chyron incident, Fox News issued an apology, stating that the chyron was taken down immediately and addressed. However, Carlson questioned the reaction to the chyron, sarcastically suggesting that lies no longer seem to bother anyone. He wondered if anyone would have been angry if Biden had been labeled a genius or accused of being secretly Sudanese. Carlson mocked the outrage, emphasizing that calling Biden a "wannabe dictator" seemed to have stung quite deeply.
In his Twitter show, Carlson sarcastically enumerated the reasons why Biden could not be considered a dictator. He highlighted government surveillance of phones and bank accounts and referred to the alleged suppression of peaceful protests, such as the events of the January 6 riot. Carlson then proceeded to compare Biden's personality to that of Saddam Hussein, Kim Il-sung, and Nicolae Ceausescu.
Carlson likened Biden to Saddam Hussein, pointing out that dictators often have family members who live above the law and indulge in decadent fantasies. He highlighted Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, who were able to do as they pleased due to their father's dictatorial powers. In contrast, Carlson argued that Biden does not have family members with scandalous behavior or a former nightclub-owning brother who has capitalized on his relation to the president.
Next, Carlson drew a parallel between Biden and Kim Il-sung, the former North Korean dictator. He mocked the notion that Biden could develop a physical or mental condition without journalists reporting on it, comparing it to the state media's efforts to hide Kim Il-sung's baseball-sized growth on his neck. Carlson emphasized that such cover-ups would never happen in the United States.
Lastly, Carlson compared Biden to Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian communist dictator, and his wife Elena. He mocked the idea that Biden would award inflated titles to his relatives or refer to non-medical professionals as doctors, as Ceausescu did with his wife. In doing so, Carlson aimed to highlight the stark contrast between the actions of dictators and Biden's behavior.
The chyron incident and Carlson's continuous release of shows on Twitter have not gone unnoticed by Fox News. The network sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter, demanding him to stop posting his Twitter shows. Despite this, Carlson's videos have garnered millions of views, surpassing cable ratings. The right-wing network has been locked in a contractual dispute with Carlson since his departure in April, which has resulted in a decline in their prime-time viewing audience.