Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, is reportedly considering launching his own media platform as he tries to break free from his contract with the media corporation, according to individuals familiar with the situation.
Sources close to Carlson told Axios on Sunday that he is mulling over a direct-to-consumer media outlet where his supporters can pay to watch his content. A friend of Carlson said, "His team is preparing for war. He wants his freedom," adding that "Now, we're going from peacetime to Defcon 1."
Defcon, or Defense Readiness Condition, is a scale used to measure the readiness of U.S. military personnel in the face of a potential nuclear attack, with Defcon 1 being the highest level of preparedness.
Carlson's ultimate objective, according to insiders, is to either continue his role as a commentator at Fox or to be released from his contract, allowing him to work with a competing right-wing outlet or create his own program.
The former host's friend also told Axios that some individuals close to Carlson have asked him if he wants them to "hit Fox," but he prefers the situation to be resolved "quiet and clean."
A source close to Carlson, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told Axios that the dismissed host "knows where a lot of bodies are buried, and is ready to start drawing a map."
Axios reported that Carlson has been "plotting a media empire of his own," but he must first escape his Fox contract, which is set to expire in January 2025. Bryan Freedman, Carlson's attorney, stated that preventing the ousted host from "speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous."
Carlson's legal team has allegedly been in negotiations with Fox over his contract, as he is eager to return to broadcasting as soon as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke with the New York Times.
The Times noted that Carlson's chances of returning to the airwaves before his contract expires are uncertain, as the agreement includes "pay or play" provisions that prevent major hosts from collaborating with rival networks.
Entertainment attorney Andy Lee, who is not involved in the Fox-Carlson negotiations, told the Times that while contract provisions can be legally challenged, "networks and studios certainly view them as being relatively ironclad."
Fox News announced last month that it had agreed to part ways with Carlson after settling a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million.
Dominion claimed that statements made by Carlson on his show "Tucker Carlson Tonight" following the 2020 presidential election were defamatory. The company argued that correspondence between Carlson and his team indicated that they knew allegations about Dominion's machines being used to manipulate election results in favor of Joe Biden were false.
Meanwhile, Carlson has received job offers from various sources, including Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov, who said, "We'll happily offer you a job if you wish to carry on as a presenter and host!"
Axios also reported that Carlson had a conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk about a potential collaboration, though no specifics were discussed.
Political activist Mike Lindell recently revealed that he had approached Carlson and former Fox News "Unfiltered" host Dan Bongino about joining Lindell TV, saying, "We would love to have them as part of our team."
Carlson began hosting "Tucker Carlson Tonight" in 2016, with the final episode airing on April 21. He initially joined Fox News in 2009 as a contributor and appeared on shows such as "Fox and Friends."