PHOENIX – Right-handed personality Tucker Carlson kicked off his live tour to a packed arena at Arizona’s Battlegrounds on Wednesday night.
But instead of delivering his usual fiery political rhetoric, Carlson focused on opening night 16-date tour because of his faith and mentioned Donald Trump’s name only a few times.
“I couldn’t wait to see other people I’m on the same page with,” he said, as the crowd roared with approval.
He was joined on stage by a barefoot Russell Brand, a British comedian and actor who recently converted to Christianity and appeared at the Republican National Convention in July. British media in 2023 informed about the claims He denies that Brand sexually and emotionally abused the four women.
Together, Carlson and Brand gave a biblical sermon that mostly covered their shared Christian identity and only touched on the presidential race.
“After this election, you will be the heirs of the new United States of America,” Brand said. “I guess I was especially inspired by Robert F. Kennedy joining Trump’s Republican MAGA movement.”
After a video compilation featuring dystopian visions of burglaries and robberies with Democratic lawmakers, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Carlson entered the Footprint Center to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
Carlson closed the night by kneeling down and praying to the crowd.
Outside, Phoenix resident Deirdre Michelle Scanlan said the two were a natural fit for the scene.
“They are a free media,” he said. “We share the deep state and the concern that it looks like we’re not getting the truth.”
Alexandrea Iverson, a North Carolina resident who plans to visit with her family around Carlson’s tour, said she felt politically inspired for the first time this election cycle.
“I’m a Kennedy supporter, and if I say Kennedy’s my man, everybody says, ‘Oh, isn’t he a nut job?'” he said. “But not tonight.”
Carlson was 55 He was abruptly fired from Fox News last year and has since started his own eponymous media company.
Carlson’s official reach is hard to track, but his podcast is #2 on Spotify. While there appear to be plenty of tickets for each night of his 16-date tour, some VIP packages, priced at $1,600 and featuring meet-and-greets with special guests including Alex Jones and Donald Trump Jr., have sold out.
Carlson’s event kicked off a whirlwind week of Republican appearances in Arizona. Sen. JD Vance spoke to a local church congregation Wednesday afternoon and plans to hold a campaign event in Phoenix on Thursday.
Arizona rocked blue 2022 midterm examIt’s a very important state to win in November, and both presidential candidates are laser-focused on gaining an advantage.
Harris visited in early Augustand made immigration a key component of his stump speech during a packed rally in the Phoenix suburb of Glenade.
A few weeks later, Trump was upstaged by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the same suburb, shortly after he left the independent party and endorsed the former president.
On Tuesday, Jimmy McCain, R-Ariz., the youngest son of the late Sen. John McCain. announced During an interview with CNN, he registered as a Democrat and decided to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Jimmy McCain said that he made this decision after the incident involving Donald Trump’s campaign staff at Arlington National Cemetery.
Last week, Trump visited the cemetery with relatives of soldiers who died in Kabul during the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan three years ago.
A member of Trump’s team “pushed aside” A cemetery official said campaign workers could take photos and videos in the area, which is normally off-limits, according to the military.
Trump’s team disputed that score.
This event was the final straw for the younger McCain, whose father and sister had previously distanced themselves from Trump.