Tucker Carlson, the former presenter of a prominent Fox News program, has secured a substantial advertising contract for his latest endeavor, a Twitter-hosted show.
CNBC reports that Carlson has signed a lucrative advertising deal with Public Square, a shopping app that positions itself as a forum for conservatives to challenge “environmental, social, and governance policies.”
While Carlson’s representatives have yet to comment on the agreement, this development suggests that he intends to attract advertisers seeking a larger platform for their conservative messages who share his views.
After leaving Fox News in April, Tucker Carlson launched his own program, “Tucker on Twitter,” which has attracted a substantial audience.
Last year, Carlson’s Fox News program generated a staggering $77.5 million in advertising revenue.
His departure from the network coincided with the network’s parent company resolving a defamation litigation with Dominion Voting Systems, in which he played a prominent role, for $787,5 million.
Carlson has emerged as an even more outspoken conservative voice on Twitter than during his Fox primetime program.
Recently, he was criticized for harboring Andrew Tate, a social media personality accused of human trafficking by Romanian investigators.
According to reports, Fox News sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter as his Twitter following grew after he left the network.
According to Axios, Carlson is still under contract with Fox, and his content will remain exclusive to the company until December 31, 2024.
Carlson’s staff responded to the letter with a statement affirming his refusal to be silenced.
Public Square, the advertising partner of Carlson’s program, appears to be a good fit for his conservative views.
CNBC reported that Public Square CEO Michael Seifert stated the company’s intent to challenge Environmental, Social, and Governance policies, which have been scrutinized by Republican legislators, right-leaning officials, and conservative media figures.
Seifert has emphasized the need for an alternative economic ecosystem in opposition to what he perceived to be corrupt and economically damaging philosophies.
The advertisements for Public Square are anticipated to begin airing on the Carlson program in late August.
Notably, Public Square intends to go public on the New York Stock Exchange “through a merger with Colombier Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company.” This merger is expected to provide Public Square with substantial funding, facilitating its development and expansion.
Michael Seifert, Omeed Malik, a Wall Street veteran, Nick Ayers, a former aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and Blake Masters, a former Arizona Senate Republican candidate and Peter Thiel ally, are anticipated to comprise the new board of directors for Public Square following its initial public offering.
In addition, 1789 Capital, an investment firm headed by Malik, is rumored to be planning a substantial eight-figure investment in Carlson’s new media venture by the end of the summer. The company has ties to billionaire Republican megadonor Rebekah Mercer, known for her support of conservative causes.
Since leaving traditional media, Carlson has remained actively involved in political discourse, sponsoring events such as the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa, at which he interviewed a number of Republican presidential candidates. Carlson continues to shape conservative media discourse and reach his audience via alternative channels, as evidenced by his new Twitter program and recent advertising agreement.