Right-wing host and notorious Fox News influencer Tucker Carlson’s latest rant backfired spectacularly on Friday when a vicious on-screen graphic appeared to refer to him, if only for a moment.
The segment was an attack on Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley, who reportedly contacted his counterpart in China in January to reassure him that the U.S. wasn’t about to attack in the final days of Donald Trump’s term.
But first, viewers saw this:
As previously reported, Carlson has admitted to lying, and Fox News attorneys won a defamation suit by arguing that “any reasonable viewer” should be skeptical of what he says on the air.
The prime time Fox News personality has turned to increasingly extremist rhetoric on his show, including anti-vaxxer talking points, misinformation about the coronavirus, conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 insurrection, and rants against immigrants, with both he and his guests disseminating white nationalist talking points.
Given that history, Carlson’s critics on social media couldn’t help but agree with his on-screen graphic:
This is a real caption.
If the shoe fits…. pic.twitter.com/xlqdiunaiq
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) September 17, 2021
Lol pic.twitter.com/qRgd51PghH
— ElElegante101 (@skolanach) September 17, 2021
Where is the lie? https://t.co/REfyGLB8yK
— Bob Brigham (@BobBrigham) September 17, 2021
Is this Fox News’ way of letting their viewers know to believe Tucker Carlson at their own peril? https://t.co/NwSTQGlBz4
— BlueWaters (Is A She🤷🏼♀️) (@Blue_Waters4) September 17, 2021