Former President Donald Trump's interview with Tucker Carlson drew in a staggering number of viewers, competing with the Republican presidential primary debate on Fox News.
Released just minutes before the debate began, the interview quickly amassed 80 million views within a span of two hours.
Criticism has been directed at Trump for his refusal to participate in the debate, which was moderated by Fox News anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. However, in his interview with Carlson, Trump provided an explanation for his decision.
He pointed to his commanding lead in the polls, stating, "You see the polls have come out, I'm leading by 50 and 60 points. And some of them are at one and zero and two. And I'm saying, 'Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it's going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn't even be running for president?' Should I be doing that?" Trump also expressed his dissatisfaction with the network, describing it as unfriendly.
During the interview, Carlson broached the topic of a potential civil war in the country. Trump acknowledged the unprecedented level of passion and hatred he has witnessed, expressing concern about the volatile combination. He remarked, "There's a level of passion that I've never seen, there's a level of hatred that I've never seen, and that's probably a bad combination."
In addition, Trump raised the possibility of Democrats resorting to assassination if he were to win the presidency again. He characterized them as "savage animals" and "sick" individuals, while acknowledging that there are also great people within the Democratic Party. Trump emphasized that he has witnessed the lengths to which some Democrats are willing to go.
Both Carlson and Trump have been vocal in their criticism of Fox News. Carlson, after leaving the news outlet, has taken to Twitter to publish a revamped version of his show, now called X by Elon Musk.
The interview between Trump and Carlson has captivated millions of viewers, providing insight into Trump's decision to skip the debate and his concerns about the current political climate. With its explosive content, the interview has sparked further debate and discussion surrounding the former President's views and the state of the nation.
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