Trump Veepstakes Is Reportedly a Proxy Fight Between Tucker Carlson and Murdoch Empire
New reporting suggests that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s veepstakes has turned into a proxy fight between former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.
According to Puck’s Tara Palmeri, Carlson is lobbying Trump on behalf of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), the Trump critic turned devotee who has championed isolationism and a left turn on economics within the GOP that aligns with Carlson’s own ideological leanings.
Meanwhile various voices from within the Murdoch empire have urged Trump to go in another direction. Longtime host Sean Hannity is reportedly “pushing hard” for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who is seen as a bridge between the Trump and traditionally conservative wings of the party.
Murdoch himself, meanwhile, is said to favor Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. He made the case for Youngkin during a phone call earlier this year and a recent New York Post editorial laid out the argument for picking Burgum.
Per Palmeri’s sources, however, Carlson has the edge over Murdoch world given Trump’s very public frustration with the mogul and his outlets, and despite Carlson’s own harsh words for the former president behind closed doors:
Indeed, if there’s a tussle for influence between Hannity and Carlson, longtime Trump aides predict the former president would lean toward Carlson, because he’s the kind of country club Republican whose approval Trump craves—unlike Hannity, an outer borough guy just like himself. When I brought up Carlson’s infamous text messages, a Trump advisor told me the incident just means Trump “craves his approval even more…”
…Although Trump once sought Murdoch’s approval and media support, some close to Trump say that Murdoch’s multiple failed attempts to “make Trump a non person” resulted in a permanent breach.
Just in the last few days, Trump has repeatedly ripped Fox News, warning his supporters that they can’t “trust” the network.
And in a Truth Social post last year, Trump attacked Murdoch, Fox News, and The Wall Street Journal over what he perceived to be their support for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential primary.
“All of this RINO/GLOBALIST push from Election Undenier Murdoch has crushed DeSanctus in the Polls!” he declared.
