Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity were once the two biggest names at Fox News.
Now the two are locked in a struggle that could determine the future of the Republican Party.
And Sean Hannity just picked this ugly fight with Tucker Carlson.
Win, lose, or draw, the 2024 election is Donald Trump’s last political campaign.
Should Trump win re-election in November, the 22nd Amendment prevents him from seeking another term in 2028.
That means whomever Trump picks as his running mate could start the 2028 presidential campaign as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination and the heir-apparent to the MAGA base.
Trump is reportedly down to the three finalists to be his Vice President – Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), as well as North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
Both Vance and Rubio have passionate advocates behind the scenes who wield a great amount of influence with Trump.
Puck News’ Tara Palmieri reported that Carlson is pushing for Vance, while Hannity is aligning with the more establishment donor class to campaign for Rubio joining the ticket.
“Carlson, for one, has been advocating for his fellow ‘America First’ isolationist, Senator J.D. Vance, seen by many as someone who could inherit Trump’s mantle,” Palmieri wrote.
Vance is the strongest MAGA voice in the Senate as he opposes all foreign aid to Ukraine, backs Trump’s push for tariffs to protect the American middle-class from globalist trade deals, and strongly supports cracking down on immigration and building the wall.
Vance also is leading the fight in pushing back against Joe Biden weaponizing the justice system against Trump by organizing a blockade of Biden nominees.
Palmieri wrote that Trump didn’t initially endorse Vance in his 2022 Senate race, but that Donald Trump Jr. convinced his father Vance was loyal to him and his agenda.
“The former president has warmed to Vance, albeit slowly. During his Ohio Senate primary in 2022, even with a push from Donald Jr., it took six weeks for Trump to endorse Vance, who was low on cash and trailing in the polls,” Palmieri wrote.
Palmieri added that Trump Jr. also repaired the rift between his dad and Carlson which had emerged after a lawsuit against Fox News revealed text messages from Carlson bad-mouthing Trump.
Carlson later endorsed Trump and Palmieri reported that Trump and Carlson are in frequent contact.
“A year later, the Fox-Dominion defamation suit revealed that Carlson had sent a text about hating Trump ‘passionately.’ But Don Jr. worked to repair the relationship, Carlson endorsed Trump, and now they speak frequently. ‘Trump craves his approval because he’s a high WASP,’ said a longtime Trump advisor,” Palmieri added.
Other conservative luminaries like Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk support Vance joining the ticket.
Kirk told Palmieri that Vance impressed Trump by going on liberal media outlets like ABC and CNN to defend Trump and push back against the media’s lies.
“He’s been very impressed with J.D.’s ability to defend him publicly on TV in adversarial and kind of difficult environments,” Kirk said in an interview with Palmieri.
Kirk argued that since the election would come down to the three Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that Vance’s Ohio background would serve as a political asset.
“I think he’s looking for a Rust Belt boost. He’s the only candidate that has ties to that region,” Kirk stated.
Palmieri wrote that Hannity and the members of the GOP donor class want Rubio on the ticket because they see him as someone who will moderate Trump’s policy proposals and image.
“Meanwhile, multiple sources tell me that Hannity is pushing hard for Trump to select Marco Rubio as his running mate. Trump and Hannity have a history of pillow talk, gabbing about policy, personnel, and endorsements,” Palmieri claimed.
Rubio supports funding the war in Ukraine, amnesty for illegal aliens, and red flag confiscation laws.
Backers in the donor class see Rubio as a Nikki Haley-type who will help Trump win-over suburban voters.
“And there are a number of other trusted voices in Trump’s inner circle who are echoing the Rubio line. Influential voices in the donor community see him as a moderating, Nikki Haley type—I’m told by a major bundler that they’re wary of Vance’s isolationism, and that they would prefer someone who is more experienced,” Palmieri reported.
But picking Rubio could also alienate the MAGA base in the process considering that gun control, endless war, and amnesty for illegal aliens are three policies anathema to Trump supporters.
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