Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Newsweek senior writer Kurt Eichenwald faced off in a heated on-air battle over reporting and President-elect Donald Trump late Thursday.
“In the last year, I’ve noticed — I think it’s fair to say — an increasingly partisan turn from you,” Carlson said on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” when prefacing his first question to Eichenwald. “Do you believe you’re practicing journalism?”
“When did you stop beating your wife?” Eichenwald retorted after heartily laughing at Carlson. “What are you talking about?”
{mosads}Carlson then cited some of Eichenwald’s past tweets about Trump, including one calling him “stupid and lazy.”
The segment quickly morphed into both men arguing over Eichenwald’s past claims about Trump’s health and frequent tweets.
“You have a real habit of taking things out of context,” Eichenwald told Carlson during their war of words.
“My only point is that you ought to label yourself what you are, which is an advocate,” the Carlson retorted.
Eichenwald ultimately unveiled a white binder labeled “Tucker Carlson falsehoods,” which he threatened to read on-air if the television personality would not let him speak.
“This is very tiresome,” Carlson said after more bickering. “I can’t imagine negotiating with you. I would go crazy.”
“How can Fox News employ you?” Eichenwald asked after threatening to read from his binder again. “Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to play this game?”
The interview eventually ended without a resolution.
“This is performance art,” Carlson said. “I’ve never had an interview like this in my life. Nobody’s getting anything out of this.”
“I’m starting to have concerns about you, Kurt,” he added before cutting off Eichenwald. “What I’m saying is I am concerned about your behavior on this show tonight.”