According to The Independent, the former Fox News host offered the surprising praise on The Tucker Carlson Show while speaking with podcaster and political commentator Jimmy Dore, even as both men questioned whether Newsom is anything more than a polished face of the Democratic establishment. The pair, discussing the likely 2028 presidential contender, at one point described the governor as “fantastic,” underscoring how style and charisma can sometimes overshadow the hard realities of progressive governance.
The exchange began when Carlson, turning to the next presidential cycle, asked Dore: “So what about Newsom?” Dore did not hesitate, responding: “I think he’s fantastic. Don’t you think he’s great? I think he cares about the people.”
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Carlson laughed at the apparent contradiction, as Dore had earlier used the same program to sharply criticise Newsom for vetoing bipartisan homelessness legislation in California. That veto, which blocked a cross-party attempt to address one of the state’s most visible crises, has become emblematic for many critics of how Democratic leaders talk compassion while presiding over social decay.
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Dore had gone so far as to liken California under Newsom to “one party rule,” comparing it to China “but with more street crime and slower trains.” His remarks captured a growing conservative and populist frustration with deep-blue states where progressive policies have coincided with rising crime, homelessness, and spiralling costs of living.
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Yet even amid that criticism, Dore acknowledged Newsom’s undeniable political polish, praising him for having “the gift of the gab.” Carlson readily agreed, replying: “Oh, he’s unbelievable. He’ll say literally anything, and he’s fun to talk to. He’s very charming, I will say.”
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The two commentators compared Newsom’s rhetorical skills to those of Barack Obama, another Democrat long admired by the media for his oratory despite a record many conservatives view as economically and culturally damaging. Dore remarked: “I would feel better after Obama gave a speech. I feel good, and I know he’s full of it, and I would feel better. It’s weird. He has that.”
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Carlson then pressed a more substantive question, asking whether Newsom is “any different from Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi,” two of the most powerful figures in the Democratic establishment. Dore’s answer was blunt: “No. You don’t get to be there if you are.”
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Dore also injected a note of humour about a potential Newsom presidency, quipping that if the governor ever reaches the White House, “he’s going to make the country look as pretty as his hair.” The joke underscored a broader conservative concern that Democrats increasingly prioritise optics and branding over results for ordinary Americans.
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Carlson himself has undergone a notable political evolution, moving away from his earlier alignment with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement during the president’s second term. He has even apologised for his role in campaigning for Trump, a rare admission in a media environment where ideological shifts are often downplayed or denied.
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The apparent breaking point, after years of support, was the Iran war, which Carlson has repeatedly condemned since Trump launched it with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu three months ago. That foreign policy rupture highlighted a growing divide on the right between traditional interventionists and a more restrained, America First approach wary of open-ended conflicts.
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Trump has not taken the criticism lightly, lashing out at Carlson earlier this year by declaring that “Tucker has lost his way.” In a March interview, the president added: “I knew that a long time ago, and he's not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country.”
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“MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America First, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.” Those remarks reflect a broader struggle inside the conservative movement over who defines America First—its original grassroots priorities or the political figures who now claim to own the brand.
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Beyond the debate over Newsom’s 2028 prospects, Carlson’s two-hour interview with Dore ranged widely, touching on Democratic presidential hopefuls, Representative Thomas Massie’s primary defeat in Kentucky, and the reported death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The conversation, oscillating between sharp criticism and unexpected admiration, underscored how personality-driven politics and media narratives can blur ideological lines even as the country remains deeply divided over policy and principle.
