Tucker Carlson says Trump became the 'leader of a nation' after he was shot and compares Biden to a 'mannequin' and 'dead person' in speech to Republican convention
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson gave a rousing address on the final day of the Republican National Convention praising Donald Trump as being a unifier and comparing Joe Biden to a 'dead person.'
The talk show host marched onto the RNC's main stage to thunderous applause from the conservatives in the room who are no doubt familiar with Carlson from his time leading the top-rated cable news show before his ousting from Fox.
Carlson immediately addressed the assassination attempt on the former president at this Saturday's campaign rally, noting how Trump did not use the inflammatory tragedy as a political cudgel.
'In the moment, the days, the weeks after the shooting ... he did his best to bring the country together,' the media personality said.
'This is the most responsible, unifying behavior of a leader I think I've ever seen.'
![Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson applauded Trump for being a unifier in the wake of his nearly-fatal assassination attempt, saying it was the most unifying behavior he's ever seen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/19/02/87519133-13649721-Former_Fox_News_host_Tucker_Carlson_applauded_Trump_for_being_a_-a-42_1721353069558.jpg)
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson applauded Trump for being a unifier in the wake of his nearly-fatal assassination attempt, saying it was the most unifying behavior he's ever seen
'When he stood up after being shot in the face and put his hand up. I thought at that moment, that was a transformation.'
'This was no longer a man ... this was the leader of a nation,' Carlson proclaimed prompting the crowd to erupt in cheers.
Carlson also pointed out how much restraint Trump showed in refusing to spark division in the wake of his shooting.
'He turned down the most obvious opportunity in politics to enflame the nation after being shot ... which is an opportunity that almost every other politician I've ever met and certainly his opponents would have taken instantly.'
The former Fox News host then recounted his personal conversation with the former president within hours of the shooting.
He detailed how Trump never talked about himself in the aftermath of getting 'shot in the face' and instead 'he said only how amazed he was and how proud he was of a crowd that didn't run.'
'Of course they didn't run, his courage gave them heart. A leader's courage gives courage to his people.'
![Tucker Carlson speaks during the Republican National Convention](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/19/02/87519077-13649721-Tucker_Carlson_speaks_during_the_Republican_National_Convention-a-44_1721353069559.jpg)
Tucker Carlson speaks during the Republican National Convention
![Donald Trump applauds during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/19/02/87518683-13649721-Donald_Trump_applauds_during_the_final_day_of_the_Republican_Nat-a-1_1721353766037.jpg)
Donald Trump applauds during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum
![Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he leaves the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/19/02/87304341-13649721-Republican_presidential_candidate_former_President_Donald_Trump_-a-36_1721352685581.jpg)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures as he is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he leaves the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania
He then turned his attention from the former president to the current one, painting a stark picture between the two presidents.
Carlson, in an apparent dig against President Joe Biden, told the crowd that the title of president does not intrinsically have value, but the person who sits in the role does.
'Just because you call yourself the president doesn't mean that much inherently,' he said.
'I can call my dog that CEO of Hewlett Packard, it doesn't mean s***.'
'You could take, I don't know, a mannequin, a dead person and make him president,' he said in an apparent jab at President Joe Biden's age.
![Carlson took an apparent jab at Joe Biden saying the title of president does not inherently mean anything and that a 'dead person' could assume office](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/19/02/87519075-13649721-Carlson_took_an_apparent_jab_at_Joe_Biden_saying_the_title_of_pr-a-41_1721353069387.jpg)
Carlson took an apparent jab at Joe Biden saying the title of president does not inherently mean anything and that a 'dead person' could assume office
Earlier in the week, Carlson sat in Trump's VIP box and was the first to welcome him to the convention floor as he entered Fiserv Forum on Monday.
The two were pictured together yucking it up and laughing as the program went on, giving insight into the two's friendly and close relationship.
His remarks come within days of reports indicating that Carlson has been an influential power broker in Trump's camp.
Those dispatches indicate the talk show host warned the former president against selecting any one other than JD Vance for his running mate.