Donald Trump Jr. defended Tucker Carlson on Monday, saying he was standing up against the “outrage mob,” after the Fox News host sparked controversy for comments he made from 2006-2011 to a shock jock radio host.
The support from the president’s son comes as Carlson faces calls for a boycott of his show, with #BoycottTuckerCarlson trending on Twitter.
The controversy was sparked after Media Matters released audio clips of Carlson on Sunday featuring some of his appearances on a radio program hosted by “Bubba the Love Sponge,” whose real name is Todd Clem.
The comments include joking that women as a whole are “extremely primitive” and saying he feels “sorry for unattractive women.”
“Media Matters caught me saying something naughty on a radio show more than a decade ago,” Carlson said in a statement on Twitter hours after the comments were published by Media Matters.
“Rather than express the usual ritual contrition, how about this: I’m on television every weeknight live for an hour. If you want to know what I think, you can watch. Anyone who disagrees with my views is welcome to come on and explain why,” the statement added.
Trump Jr., who appeared on Carlson’s program earlier this month, lauded the host on Twitter while arguing that even “the most sincere apology” by Carlson would not satisfy critics.
“This is how to handle the outrage mob,” he wrote to his more than 3.3 million followers. “Remember, even the most sincere apology means nothing to them. They want to break and ruin you. That’s their end goal,” he said on Twitter.
Fox News did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Hill.
Several other conservative media members and commentators also voiced their support for Carlson.
The defense of Carlson by some conservatives comes amid calls for a boycott of his show.