Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out dropping out of the 2024 White House race, despite facing criminal charges. The Republican real‑estate magnate, who is charged with 34 felony counts in New York over alleged hush‑money payments to an adult‑film actress, told Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson that nothing—including a conviction—would stop him from running. “I’d never drop out,” he said. “It’s not my thing. I wouldn’t do it.”
In his first major interview since being arrested and fingerprinted last week, the 76‑year‑old also expressed doubt that Democrat President Joe Biden, 80, will seek re‑election. “I don’t see how it’s possible,” Trump said. “It’s not an age thing… I don’t think he can. I just don’t see Biden doing it from a physical or a mental standpoint. I don’t see it.” Trump and other senior Republicans have repeatedly questioned Biden’s mental acuity and apparent frailty, while right‑wing outlets such as Fox News often highlight the president’s verbal flubs and moments when he appears to lose his train of thought.
During Trump’s own presidency, Fox provided an uncritical forum for him to air grievances, with the then‑commander‑in‑chief frequently calling in unannounced to shows and speaking at length with presenters. The relationship cooled after Trump’s defeat to Biden in the 2020 election but has steadily warmed again as the Republican nominating contest heats up. The interview, whose second part is expected to air on Wednesday, comes weeks after texts emerged showing Carlson speaking disparagingly about Trump after his election loss. Those messages were uncovered as part of a $1.6 billion lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News over its coverage of Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
One Carlson text, sent two days before a Trump‑supporting mob—incited by the former president’s false claims of a “stolen election”—invaded the U.S. Capitol, read: “We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can’t wait.” Another said, “I hate him passionately.” No mention of the texts or other discovery evidence was broadcast.
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