Fox News host Tucker Carlson spent a week in Hungary fawning over autocratic leader Viktor Orbán. Home and abroad, Carlson was attacked for glorifying a leader known for censoring journalists, attacking immigrants, and promoting right-wing nationalism.
"Night after night, he's promoted rhetoric that was once on the fringes, or at least should be on the fringes, to millions of viewers," said Hannah Gais, a researcher at the Southern Poverty Law Center. "Tucker has already carried water for Orbán's anti-immigration policies and his attacks on philanthropist George Soros — now he's further whitewashing this authoritarian government for an American audience."
According to his critics, Carlson gave Orbán the American airwaves to promote right-wing populism so Fox News viewers could see how such a movement could be the future of the United States.
Carlson even did his own report on the coverage he was getting from Hungary, saying that the mainstream media was mischaracterizing the country. Carlson claimed that they aren't as repressive as the media is making them out to be.
Yet, when Carlson asked his new idol about China, Orbán not only dodged the question, the interview ended up being censored by Hungarian authorities.
But Carlson's own
Hungarian govt sent out a transcript to reporters of @TuckerCarlson\u2019s interview with PM Orban. The transcript with \u201canti-communist\u201d Orban does not include any mention of China or Xi Jinping. https://twitter.com/b_novak/status/1423528385452589058\u00a0\u2026— Benjamin Novak (@Benjamin Novak) 1628277987
Fox News hasn't been supportive of Xi Jinping or China. Carlson, in particular, has spent months attempting to link Democrats to China and communism. Right-wing firebrands like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) consistently attack Democrats as supportive of the Chinese Communist Party.
It was too much for those online, who couldn't help but notice the humorous paradox.
See their ridicule below:
So Tucker got censored by Orban for criticizing China? Trouble in illiberal autocratic paradise?https://twitter.com/b_novak/status/1423727185634934784\u00a0\u2026— Josh Rogin (@Josh Rogin) 1628516098
ill be joining tucker carlson at 8PM tonight to discuss how hungary is better than america because in america the nba doesnt criticize china— Andrew Lawrence (@Andrew Lawrence) 1628520925
I\u2019m sorry but this is the best thing out of Tucker\u2019s fun with fascism tourpic.twitter.com/0quBXlsVuL— Molly Jong-Fast (@Molly Jong-Fast) 1628510524
Tucker Carlson: Americans can learn a thing or two from Hungary.\nOrban: Preach, Tucker!\nTucker: Americans are so bad we're becoming like China!\nOrban: Shut up, Tucker.— January 6, 2021: The Album - Now Available (@January 6, 2021: The Album - Now Available) 1628519458
The gun laws and the fact that Hungary censored Tucker on China should be shouted from the rooftops. Those are the two things most likely to get run-o'-the-mill MAGAs to turn on Tucker's embrace of Orban.— Two Seasons Partial Landscaping (@Two Seasons Partial Landscaping) 1628516254
Tuck's new bff Orban of Hungary doubles down on support for China.https://www.politico.eu/article/orban-taunts-germany-by-doubling-down-on-support-for-china/amp/?__twitter_impression=true\u00a0\u2026— Patrick Wayne (@Patrick Wayne) 1628520088
Because Orban has much better relations with the Chinese communists than with the United States.https://twitter.com/b_novak/status/1423727185634934784\u00a0\u2026— Anne Applebaum (@Anne Applebaum) 1628346172
I'm shocked, shocked I tell you, that Tucker Carlson got played by Orban concerning China. https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1424014892768628739\u00a0\u2026— \uff34\uff48\uff4f\uff4d\uff41\uff53 \uff26\uff4f\uff52\uff4e\uff41\uff53\uff48 (@\uff34\uff48\uff4f\uff4d\uff41\uff53 \uff26\uff4f\uff52\uff4e\uff41\uff53\uff48) 1628521340
Looks like @TuckerCarlson's buddy Viktor Orb\u00e1n cancelled the @FoxNews host's criticism of #China.\n\nThe context: #Hungary is forming deep investment alliances with Xi Jinping and criticism of China is stifled by Orban's government.https://twitter.com/b_novak/status/1423727185634934784\u00a0\u2026— Dave Keating (@Dave Keating) 1628327677
Nonsense ! Orban is in favor of a strict China strategy.— Andr\u00e9 Viktor Baron Thyssen Bornemissza von Kaszon (@Andr\u00e9 Viktor Baron Thyssen Bornemissza von Kaszon) 1628331425
