“Dad Comes Home and He’s P—ed”: Tucker Carlson’s Speech at Trump Rally Raises Eyebrows with Disciplinary Themes

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson delivered a provocative speech at a Trump rally in Duluth, Georgia, comparing Donald Trump to a stern father returning home to discipline a wayward America. Carlson’s speech, which was part of a Turning Point Action event, featured unsettling metaphors that painted Trump as a parental figure intent on restoring order to a misbehaving “child-like” country.

The crowd’s reaction was enthusiastic, although many outside the event found Carlson’s paternal imagery troubling. Carlson began his speech with a striking analogy that portrayed the United States as a child in need of firm discipline.

“If you allow your 2-year-old to smear the contents of his diapers on the wall of your living room and you do nothing about it if you allow your 14-year-old to light a joint at the breakfast table, if you allow your hormone-addled 15-year-old daughter to slam the door of her bedroom and give you the finger, you’re gonna get more of it,” Carlson told the energized crowd, as reported by The Daily Beast.

He suggested that America, much like an unruly child, was in need of Trump’s “fatherly” presence to set things right. Carlson, a father of three daughters, took his metaphor further, declaring that “there has to be a point at which Dad comes home.” The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause as Carlson continued, “Dad comes home and he’s p—ed.

He’s not vengeful; he loves his children, disobedient as they may be.” Carlson’s rhetoric escalated as he conjured images of Trump as a disciplinarian doling out punishment: “‘You’ve been a bad girl. You’ve been a bad little girl and you’re getting a vigorous spanking,’” Carlson said, as the crowd cheered. “‘I’m not going to lie. It’s going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me”, as per Guardian. 

Supporters at the rally reacted fervently to Carlson’s choice of words, with cries of “Daddy’s home” and “Daddy Don” echoing through the venue. This intense display of devotion stands in stark contrast to Carlson’s previously expressed private opinions on Trump. In text messages disclosed during the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News, Carlson wrote, “I hate him passionately” and expressed relief at being able to “ignore Trump most nights.”

The speech has drawn widespread criticism for its authoritarian undertones. Harris campaign spokesman James Singer called the speech “f-cking weird,” while others pointed out its disturbing implications of control and discipline. Such paternalistic metaphors have surfaced before; at a recent Pennsylvania rally, Trump told supporters, “You will no longer be abandoned, lonely, or scared… I will be your protector.”

This language has drawn criticism for its authoritarian connotations, especially as it comes amid growing concerns among female voters about issues like abortion rights. Trump has seen an erosion of support among white women, many of whom prioritize reproductive rights, while his appeal continues to grow among male voters across various demographics.

As the presidential campaign intensifies, critics fear that the MAGA movement is embracing increasingly authoritarian rhetoric. Carlson’s speech and the enthusiastic response it received underscore these concerns, with many noting that the themes of control and punishment are unlikely to fade from Trump’s campaign messaging. Carlson and Trump are expected to appear together again at a Halloween event in Arizona, where similar themes may resurface as the race to the 2024 election continues.