A Bantam For President?

Ted Clement ’29

Contributing Writer

When thinking of potential candidates for the highest office in the free world, certain names are bound to come up: California Governor Gavin Newsom, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and more seem to be present in just about every all too early prediction for 2028. However, amongst these accomplished, although painfully uninspiring candidates, is none other than Trinity’s own Tucker Carlson who has recently reached third place in various betting markets for the Republican Party’s 2028 nominee for President. Just what is driving this enthusiasm? How did we get here? And most importantly, can a Bantam actually make his way to the presidency? 

For some voters, the answer is clearly yes. Since his dramatic exit from Fox News, Tucker’s gone through something of a metamorphosis. Carlson is no longer the bow-tie-wearing, Fox host that would be right in place at “Camp Trin,” but is now a nicotine-fueled populist who often denounces the policies that a sizable portion of the US population despises.

In fact, this seems to be the main force behind the rumors of him running. In the wake of the disgraceful Epstein cover-up, Iran War and infinite broken promises, there is a growing portion of the American Right that is tired of MAGA, while still wanting elements of what made Trump so attractive to voters in 2016 and 2024. Tucker has forcibly come out against the war in Iran, calling Trump’s Easter post “vile on every level.” He has also called for the US to distance itself from Israel, adding, “This distancing should begin with a total end of aid of any kind, military or economic, to Israel by the U.S. government.” It is this stance that drew the ire of members of the Trump administration, including notable crook Mark Levin, who posted “Qatarlson has been a liberal, a libertarian, an actual neo-con, a conservative, and today just a simple reprobate who has much in common with Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib.” Of course, if not wanting our sons and daughters to die in a pointless war makes an American comrades with Sanders and the Taliban, then millions of Trump’s own voters must have turned into progressives overnight. The fact is, the majority of voters stand opposed to this war, and 57% of Republicans aged 18-49 have an unfavorable view of Israel. The GOP can not afford to pretend that its voters will accept endless bloodshed in the Middle East and unquestioning support for Israel. Any politician with an IQ above that of a baked potato can recognize that there is an avenue for an anti-war, anti-Israel candidate in the Republican field. Tucker is also able to distinguish between anti-Zionism and genuine anti-semitism, making his argument much more appealing to the average voter. 

Compare Tucker Carlson’s record to that of the other leading Republican candidates. Vance is tied to an increasingly failing administration while Rubio is a warhawk who represents the worst impulses of the neoconservative Republican party of old. Furthermore, if the most diehard MAGA supporters today are the likes of Lindsey Graham, Howard Lutnick, Randy Fine, Lara Loomer and Ted Cruz, then MAGA has become the very thing it sought to destroy and must be replaced by something better. Compare these figures to Tucker, who can claim to be the heir to the 2016 MAGA movement while holding credibility with independents and, potentially, some left-wing voters. Before you dismiss that possibility, consider this scenario. The Democrats have a unique ability to shoot themselves in the foot and have an uninspiring field of likely candidates. If a figure like Gavin Newsom, who calls Israel an “apartheid state” one week and says he “reveres” it the next, wins the Democratic nomination, there is a credible chance that those who want to see Palestinian liberation would vote for Tucker or stay home. 

Carlson has given somewhat mixed signals on whether he is seriously considering running. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Tucker declared, “I almost want to run for president just to debate Ted Cruz,” a man he made look silly and frankly stupid in their debate last summer. However, Tucker has historically expressed disinterest in running for president. That said, when thousands of fans hope he does, it’s hard to imagine he is not seriously debating it. Personally, I find Tucker to not be some “nut job,” despite what Trump called him, or the snotty elitist he played on Fox News, but perhaps one of the last commentators who has the guts to say what he thinks; that’s what’s appealing in an era full of phony, bought and paid for politicians. Perhaps Tucker won’t run and instead stick to his rapidly growing nicotine brand, but nobody in the world of politics has not pictured themselves in the Oval Office.

So could Trinity’s most infamous alum be a genuinely electable candidate for 2028? Well, in the age of Trump, stranger things have certainly happened.