Overview

• On Wednesday’s episode of The Tucker Carlson Show with guest Michael Knowles, Carlson labeled Pete Buttigieg “the fake gay guy” and said he would ask him “very specific questions about gay sex.”
• Carlson provided no evidence, instead referencing anecdotes from an unnamed “gay producer” and a friend cited by Knowles.
• News coverage across outlets reported the remarks and characterized the claim as baseless, and Buttigieg has not publicly responded.
• Knowles later defended amplifying such opinions in a TMZ Live appearance and cast Buttigieg as a careerist benefiting from identity politics.
• The comments repeat assertions Carlson made in 2022 and 2024, despite Buttigieg’s long public record as an openly gay politician married since 2018 and the first openly gay person confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet post.