You’ve probably seen the screenshots. Maybe a friend texted you a link to a post on X that looked incredibly official, claiming Donald Trump finally tapped the former Fox News kingpin for the podium. The idea of it is almost cinematic. Imagine Tucker Carlson, the man who spent years dismantling the "legacy media" from a prime-time desk, standing at that tiny White House lectern and staring down the very reporters he calls "ghouls."
It’s the ultimate political fan-fiction. But here’s the reality: Karoline Leavitt is the White House Press Secretary. She’s been in the job since January 20, 2025. At just 27, she became the youngest person to ever hold the position, effectively ending the fever dream that Tucker would be the one dodging questions from the Sunday show veterans. While the internet keeps asking if Tucker Carlson is going to be Press Secretary, the ship hasn't just sailed; it’s already docked and unloading cargo.
The Viral Rumor That Wouldn't Die
Social media is a weird place. Back in late 2024, specifically around November 13, a series of fabricated statements began circulating. They were designed to look like official Truth Social posts or transition team press releases. They looked real. They sounded like Trump. People shared them by the thousands.
Honestly, it’s easy to see why.
Tucker Carlson was a massive force in the 2024 election cycle. He didn't just endorse Trump; he became a sort of philosophical architect for the "New Right." He was at the RNC. He was on the plane. He was the one interviewing the candidate in high-stakes settings. Naturally, people assumed he wanted a piece of the pie.
But he didn't.
According to multiple reports from the transition period, Tucker was never actually in the running for a formal staff role like Press Secretary. He’s too big for it. Being Press Secretary is a grind. You have to answer to a Chief of Staff. You have to read off a binder. You have to be "on message" 24/7.
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Tucker? He likes to be the message.
Why Karoline Leavitt Got the Nod Instead
Trump likes loyalty, but he also likes "central casting." Karoline Leavitt fit the bill perfectly. She was the national press secretary for the campaign. She’s quick. She’s "camera-ready." Most importantly, she’s a true believer who worked in the first Trump administration's press office before going off to work for Elise Stefanik.
By the time the 2025 inauguration rolled around, Leavitt had already established herself as a fighter. In her first few briefings, she made it clear that the "old way" of doing things was over. She invited influencers. She brought in podcasters. She basically did exactly what people thought Tucker would do—challenging the seating charts and the "gatekeeper" status of the mainstream press—but she did it while actually being willing to do the administrative work of the office.
The Current State of the White House Press Room
It’s been a chaotic start to 2026. If you’ve been following the news this week, you saw Leavitt getting into a heated exchange with Niall Stanage from The Hill. They were arguing about ICE and border policy. It was combative. It was loud. It was exactly the kind of "media-on-media" violence that MAGA supporters love.
But it wasn't Tucker.
Tucker was actually at the White House last week, though. On January 9, 2026, he was spotted in the East Room during a meeting with oil executives. He wasn't there as an employee; he was there as a guest. He looked thinner—something people on the internet have been obsessing over—and he spent his subsequent podcast episode praising Trump’s "honesty" regarding Venezuela’s oil.
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Where is Tucker Carlson Now?
If he’s not the Press Secretary, what is he doing?
Basically, he’s running his own media empire from a wood-paneled cabin. He’s become a kingmaker. Instead of answering questions for the President, he’s the one asking them. Lately, he’s been causing quite a stir within the Republican party. He’s been openly feuding with Ron DeSantis over foreign policy and "hate speech" laws. He even split with some of his old allies by interviewing controversial figures like Nick Fuentes, which caused a massive rift among Trump-aligned thinkers.
He has more power as an outsider.
Think about it. If he were Press Secretary, he couldn't go on a two-hour rant about the "Deep State" or interview foreign leaders on his own terms. He’d be a spokesperson. Right now, he’s a player.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Role
The Press Secretary role is often misunderstood. People think it’s just about being famous or good on TV.
It’s actually a middle-management nightmare. You are the buffer between a demanding President and a hostile press corps. You have to coordinate with the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget, and dozens of other agencies just to make sure you don't accidentally start a war or crash the stock market with a stray sentence.
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Tucker Carlson has never been a "details" guy. He’s a "big picture" guy. He’s a rhetorician. Putting him in the Press Secretary’s office would be like putting a wild mustang in a cubicle.
The Bottom Line
Is Tucker Carlson going to be Press Secretary? No. The position is filled. The administration is well into its second year. Karoline Leavitt is the face of the Trump White House media operation. Tucker is exactly where he wants to be: in the ear of the President, on the screens of millions of viewers, and completely untethered from the rules of a government job.
If you see a headline tomorrow saying he’s just been hired, check the date. It’s either old news or a very persistent ghost of a rumor that refuses to go away.
Actionable Insights for Following the Administration:
- Watch the Briefings: If you want to see the actual "Tucker-style" disruption, watch Karoline Leavitt’s briefings. She has successfully integrated "new media" and podcasters into the room, which was the primary goal Tucker's fans had hoped for.
- Follow the "DOGE" Updates: Much of the media-related "disruption" is actually happening through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where the administration is communicating directly through social media rather than traditional press releases.
- Verify the Source: Before sharing a "breaking news" alert about cabinet changes, check the official White House "Briefing Room" page or a primary source. The 2024-2025 transition was rife with AI-generated fake announcements that still haunt search results today.
Stay skeptical of the "viral" screenshots. In the current political climate, the loudest rumors are often the ones with the least amount of truth behind them.