Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was widely mocked on social media this week after revealing he refused to appear on Tucker Carlson’s television show after attacking Carlson and Fox News in a letter to Fox owner Rupert Murdoch.
Schumer leveled many attacks and demands against Tucker Carlson in a letter addressed to Rupert Murdoch and Fox News that was published in the New York Times on Tuesday, which claimed without evidence that the recent New York mass shooter was motivated by Carlson’s program.
When producers of Carlson’s show showed reached out to Schumer to invite him on air to defend the merits of his accusations to Carlson’s face, however, the Senate Majority leader swiftly declined.
“@TuckerCarlson invited me on his show tonight to debate the letter I sent to @FoxNews,” Schumer said. “I’m declining. Tucker Carlson needs to stop promoting the racist, dangerous ‘Replacement Theory’.”
Schumer’s refusal to debate Carlson was widely mocked on social media.
Revolver.news’ Darren Beattie described Schumer’s response as “pathetic.”
Pathetic https://t.co/1NgIEBtv1A
— Darren J. Beattie 🌐 (@DarrenJBeattie) May 17, 2022
Congressional candidate Vernon Jones quoted tweeted Schumer with the question, “So you went on Twitter to brag about being a coward?”
So you went on Twitter to brag about being a coward? https://t.co/TRHKZ3n0XK
— Vernon Jones For Congress (@VernonForGA) May 17, 2022
“If his audience is stuck in an ‘echo chamber,’ the rational thing to do would be to go on the show to inform them directly,” political commentator Mark Dice wrote. “Not tweet that you’re refusing to cuz you’re afraid of a talk show host.”
If his audience is stuck in an “echo chamber,” the rational thing to do would be to go on the show to inform them directly. Not tweet that you’re refusing to cuz you’re afraid of a talk show host.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) May 17, 2022
Pussy
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 17, 2022
We know you're a liar. The Democrats bragged about replacing the 'white vote' for years. This is all just a con job to silence someone who criticizes your lame party. Nobody is fooled, coward.
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) May 17, 2022
“Tucker Carlson Tonight” was known for its debate segments pitting Carlson against various political establishment opponents when it first launched in November 2016, but liberal and neoconservative figures soon began avoiding the show after Carlson’s critiques frequently went viral on social media.
