Tucker Carlson, the former host of a popular show on Fox News, has secured a major advertising agreement for his latest venture, a show hosted on Twitter. CNBC reports that Carlson has inked a lucrative advertising deal with Public Square, a shopping app that positions itself as a platform for conservative individuals to challenge “environmental, social, and governance policies.”
While representatives for Carlson have not yet commented on the agreement, this development suggests his intention to attract like-minded advertisers seeking a broader platform for their conservative messages.
After leaving Fox News in April, Carlson launched his show, “Tucker on Twitter,” which has gained a substantial viewership. His Fox News program generated an impressive $77.5 million advertising revenue last year.
He left the network at the same time that its parent company settled a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, a case in which Carlson was heavily involved. Since then, Carlson has become an even more vocal conservative voice on Twitter than his previous prime-time Fox show. Recently, he faced criticism for hosting Andrew Tate, a social media personality accused by Romanian investigators of human trafficking.
Reports suggest that Fox News sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter as his Twitter presence grew following his departure from the network.
According to Axios, Carlson is still under contract with Fox, and the agreement stipulates that his content remains exclusive to the company until December 31, 2024. In response to the letter, Carlson’s team issued a statement affirming his refusal to be silenced. Public Square, the advertising partner of Carlson’s show, seems to align well with his conservative leanings.
Public Square CEO Michael Seifert has expressed the company’s intention to challenge Environmental, Social, and Governance policies, which have drawn scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, right-wing officials, and conservative media figures, as reported by CNBC. Seifert has emphasized the need for an alternative economic ecosystem that opposes what he perceives as corrupt philosophies detrimental to the economy.
Public Square’s advertisements will appear on Carlson’s show in late August. It is worth noting that Public Square intends to become a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange by merging with Colombier Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company. This merger is anticipated to bring significant funding for Public Square, allowing the company to expand and enhance its operations.
The new board of directors for Public Square, following its public listing, is expected to include Michael Seifert, Omeed Malik (a Wall Street veteran), Nick Ayers (former aide to Vice President Mike Pence), and Blake Masters (former Arizona Senate GOP candidate and ally of Peter Thiel).
Additionally, it has been reported that 1789 Capital, an investment firm led by Malik, is planning a significant eight-figure investment into Carlson’s new media company by the end of the summer. The firm has ties to Rebekah Mercer, a billionaire Republican megadonor known for her support of conservative causes.
Since leaving traditional media, Carlson has remained actively engaged in political discussions, hosting events like the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, where he interviewed several Republican presidential candidates. With his new Twitter show and the recent advertising deal, Carlson is continuing to shape conservative media discourse and reach his audience through alternative channels.