Why Has Tucker Carlson Been So Harsh on Chris Wallace? This Awkward Exchange from 2013 Might Explain It

There is no shortage of schadenfreude or dearth of grave dancing over the swift failure of CNN+, and of course, Fox News hosts are no exception whatsoever. Yet even in that select group, the particular glee with which Tucker Carlson has indulged stands out.

It is safe to say the bad blood between Carlson and Wallace goes back years, and there are many instances of conflicting views and outright disputes between the Carlson-dominated prime time programming and FNC’s news shows, for years headlined by Chris Wallace on Sunday.

But a video Mediaite remembers from waaaaay back in 2013 might be the genesis of the special rift between these two faces of Fox.

And it took place on Fox & Friends. We wrote about it at the time.

Fox News Sunday host Wallace clearly thought he was coming on F&F to talk exclusively about Sen. Ted Cruz and the coming showdown over defunding Obamacare and potential government shutdown; but Carlson wanted to hear his thoughts on Obama saying “we have overcome far darker threats” than the GOP attempts to defund the healthcare law.

“That is the race card being played,” Carlson explained. “Can you see any other explanation for it?” he asked the FNS host.

Wallace threw his hands up and said, “Oh, I don’t know,” before pivoting: “I think to get to the real point though, they are not going to compromise.”

Despite Wallace’s efforts to turn back to strictly talking congressional politics, Carlson did not back down, interrupting: “But what do you mean? Isn’t it news if the president says to the Congressional Black Caucus, ‘We have overcome far bigger threats’? That’s taking rhetoric to a new place, is it not?”

And here’s where things got supremely awkward.

Wallace chuckled, paused for a good two seconds, and then amusedly replied: “I don’t know, Tucker.”

Uncomfortable pause again.

“Do you want me to talk about Obamacare?” Wallace then asked.

Carlson agreed, prompting Wallace to reply with a smirking “okay,” almost as if to pat his colleague on the head before moving on. You can sense the “Thou Hast Inconvenienced Me” look in Wallace’s eyes.

The whole thing was cringe-worthy

Well. Yep, that was pretty awkward.

No feud is ever about one thing. But some feuds can start with just one thing. You never can tell, but it’s possible this was the start of it all.

Watch above via Fox News.