Tucker Carlson says 'I'm not running' for president in 2024: 'I'm a talk show host'

• Tucker Carlson gave a contentious interview with Semafor co-founder Ben Smith on Thursday.
• When asked if he has political ambitions for a presidential run, Carlson dismissed the question.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Thursday he is not running for president in 2024.

Despite reporting from Insider and other outlets on speculation within GOP donor circles about a Tucker 2024 campaign, the highest rated cable news host in US history said in a cantankerous interview with journalist Ben Smith that he's happy in his day job.

"I have zero ambition, not just politically, but in life," Carlson told Smith, the co-founder of Semafor and a former New York Times media columnist. "My ambition is to write my script by 8 p.m. ... I don't want power, I've never wanted power — I'm annoyed by things, I want them to change — but I've never been motivated by a desire to control people."

When pressed by Smith on 2024, Carlson laughed off the question.

"I'm not running," Carlson said, followed by his signature chortle. "I'm a talk show host! And I enjoy my job, by the way. What a blessing it is to say what you really think. Only women can get pregnant, I dare you to say that."

Throughout the interview, Carlson clashed with Smith, at one point calling him a "propagandist" and later saying he doesn't know what his own ratings are, despite his show breaking the record for most viewers on cable news in the summer of 2020.

"I don't know how to read a ratings chart," Carlson said. "Ask anyone who works for me or has worked with me. I never look at the ratings. I'm not on the ratings email. I'm not even on email."

"But you're in the ratings business, fundamentally," Smith replied.

"Slow down — I don't know what my ratings are, and I mean that," Carlson said. "You may not believe me. I don't own a TV, that's true."

At several points throughout the interview, Smith tried to cut in and ask Carlson follow-up questions. Carlson would instead talk over Smith and go on the offensive.

Eventually, Smith stopped Carlson during a tangent to wrap up the interview.

"Tucker, we are, we are out of time, and I appreciate — I'm glad you could join us, thank you," Smith said as the crowd gave muted applause.

"That was fun," Carlson replied.