Fox News' Tucker Carlson Taking A Sudden 'Vacation'

Fox News' Tucker Carlson

After receiving a lot of backlash for declaring white supremacy in America to be a "hoax," Fox News' Tucker Carlson announced last night that he will be taking a vacation.

How convenient...

CNN contacted Fox News spokesperson about the trip and was told it had been in the works before Carlson had made his incendiary remarks.

According to the spokesperson, Carlson will return to his show on August 19.

But, as CNN points out, there is a long history of Fox hosts going on vacation amid controversy:

• Laura Ingraham was suddenly absent in March 2018 after mocking Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg.

• Sean Hannity conveniently took personal time in May 2017 after losing advertisers for promoting the Seth Rich conspiracy theory.

• Jesse Watters made for the hills in April 2017 after making a comment widely criticized as lewd about Ivanka Trump.

• And who can forget Bill O'Reilly, who left and never returned from vacay in April 2017 after the New York Times reported he had settled five sexual harassment allegations for millions of dollars?

Joe Biden: "This President Has Fanned The Flames Of White Supremacy"

Former Vice President Joe Biden forcefully denounced Donald Trump's ducking of any responsibility regarding the spate of mass shootings in the U.S.

From Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post:

In a fiery and blunt speech slamming the tenor, tone and words of President Trump as the nation reels from white nationalist domestic terrorism, former vice president Joe Biden reminded all of us of what a presidential president sounds like.

His words were stirring. His delivery was passionate. And they were befitting a man who kicked off his campaign with a video decrying Trump’s shameful response to Charlottesville.

From Biden's speech:

How far is it from Trump’s saying this “is an invasion” to the shooter in El Paso declaring, quote, “this attack is in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas”? How far apart are those comments?

How far is it from white supremacists and Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville -- Trump’s “very fine people” -- chanting “You will [not] replace us” – to the shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh saying, “we're committing genocide" -- Jews are committing genocide -- on his people. I don't think it's that far at all.

It’s both clear language and in code, this president has fanned the flames of white supremacy in this nation.

Biden notes similarities between El Paso shooter's manifesto & Trump's rhetoric, says Trump "has fanned flames of white supremacy in this nation."

"His vacant-eyed mouthing of the words written for him condemning white supremacists this week I don't believe fooled anyone." pic.twitter.com/tt8nBcBzhY

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 7, 2019

BIDEN: "We have a problem with this rising tide of white supremacy in America. And we have a president who encourages and emboldens it ... He says that guns are not the problem in mass shootings. That the issue is mental health. It's a dodge. Hatred isn't a mental health issue." pic.twitter.com/JylC3D2uxE

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 7, 2019

Fox News' Tucker Carlson: White Supremacy Is "Actually Not A Real Problem"

Fox News host Tucker Carlson told his TV audience last night that white supremacy is "actually not a real problem in America.”

“This is a hoax, just like the Russia hoax," he added. "It’s a conspiracy theory used to divide the country and keep a hold on power.”

Saying “the whole thing is a lie,” Carlson downplayed the threat by saying, "The combined membership of every white supremacist organization in this country would be able to fit inside a college football stadium.”

As CNN reports, the point is that men like the suspect in the El Paso shooting aren’t “members” of an “organization.”

The suspect made clear in the manifesto he left behind that he wanted to kill as many Mexicans as possible.

But Tucker Carlson says white supremacy is not a real problem in America.

Tucker Carlson: White supremacy is "actually not a real problem in America." Calling white supremacy and issue is "a hoax" and "a conspiracy theory used to divide the country" pic.twitter.com/ydzmJ0L7UI

— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) August 7, 2019

22 people were shot dead over the weekend by a white supremacist who justified his murder by using language frequently used by Tucker

He doesn't want you to think it's an issue and the only assumption you can make is bc he wants these things to continue happening

— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) August 7, 2019

I have something to tell Tucker Carlson. My parents were white supremacists. Their hate was not a hoax. They wanted what’s happening now. I ran from everything they believed. But their vile beliefs were real. Dangerous. And shared by too many. We can’t pretend otherwise.

— Bryce Tache 🇺🇸 (@brycetache) August 7, 2019

Don Lemon on Tucker Carlson’s assertion that white supremacy is not a problem in America:

“Is that not the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard?”#TuckerCarlsonpic.twitter.com/INZCOY9bd9

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) August 7, 2019

Now updated: A timeline of Tucker Carlson's descent into white supremacy https://t.co/YbTZFQl8XH pic.twitter.com/W54WJvHCPc

— Media Matters (@mmfa) August 7, 2019