Former President Donald Trump reacted to Fox News parting ways with top-rated host Tucker Carlson and explained his feud with Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in a wide-ranging interview on Monday.

Trump spoke with Newsmax’s Greg Kelly, who began their discussion with questions about Carlson’s high-profile departure weeks after the Fox News host conducted an interview with the former president.

“Well, I’m shocked, I’m surprised,” Trump said of Carlson’s ouster. “He’s a very good person, a very good man, and very talented, as you know, and he had very high ratings.”

Trump said he did not know if Carlson left voluntarily or got fired but speculated Carlson “wants free rein, maybe.”

TRUMP COMMENTS ON TUCKER: ‘45’ tells Greg Kelly his thoughts on Fox News and Tucker Carlson parting ways. “I just said, wow, that was something, that's a big one.” pic.twitter.com/XIWMVaXfpB

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 25, 2023

Fox News announced Monday that the network and Carlson “agreed to part ways,” and the host’s last show was Friday.

“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” Fox News said in a statement, adding that “Fox News Tonight” would air live at 8 p.m. ET as an interim show helmed by “rotating” network personalities until a new host is named.

Carlson ended his last show by telling viewers he would be back on Monday. As of press time, Carlson has yet to comment on his situation publicly.

Sources told The Los Angeles Times that the decision to push out Carlson and his producer Justin Wells came from Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch and that the exit is related to a discrimination lawsuit filed by former network producer Abby Grossberg.

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Later in the interview, Trump talked about the 2024 election and DeSantis, who is widely expected to enter the contest for the GOP nomination — a move that would set them up to clash.

“Right now, I'm very down on [DeSantis],” former president Donald Trump tells Greg Kelly.

“I am very disappointed in him because I'm a loyal person, maybe to a fault." pic.twitter.com/0Zjn8JBWIO

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 25, 2023

“Right now, I’m very down on him,” Trump said of DeSantis.

Trump explained that he views DeSantis toying with the idea of a presidential campaign right now as a betrayal because he endorsed DeSantis to be Florida governor.

“A lot of people said loyalty doesn’t mean anything to me. Loyalty means a lot,” Trump said.

Although there were no insights into who Trump might pick as a running mate, he did downplay the significance of choosing one, at least during the campaign.

People “vote for the one person,” Trump said.

Trump also mocked President Joe Biden, who made his re-election campaign official on Tuesday, for opting to go with a video announcement.

“This way he can do it four or five times so he gets it right,” Trump quipped.

Fans are still reeling from the shocking announcement that primetime star Tucker Carlson would no longer work for Fox News.

No one is sure what Carlson’s departure means for the future of his career, but it did inspire many fans, including former show guests and media personalities, to share stories about his kindness over the years.

“When I first moved to DC, [Tucker Carlson] heard it was my first Thanksgiving away from home. I had just gone through a divorce and my kids were on the other side of the country. He invited me to his home and I enjoyed Thanksgiving with his father, his wife, his children and his dogs,” radio personality Larry O’Connor wrote. 

“They treated me like I was a part of the family. It turned what would have been a sad and lonely day into one I’ll never forget. His family is full of joy and love and laughter. Tucker is the winner today.”

“Tucker Carlson is genuinely one of the kindest, most down to earth people I have ever met in my life. When I had the opportunity to meet him a few months ago, he greeted me as if we had been best friends for a lifetime,” Jaimee Michell, founder of Gays Against Groomers, tweeted. 

“I will forever be grateful to this man for having me on his show just 3 months after I launched [Gays Against Groomers]. He continued to amplify and promote our work by having me on another 3 times after that. He also personally reached out to me and has been offering his support, advice and friendship. He didn’t have to do that, but he saw how critical our voices are in the fight to end the war on children,” she said.

Tucker Carlson is genuinely one of the kindest, most down to earth people I have ever met in my life. When I had the opportunity to meet him a few months ago, he greeted me as if we had been best friends for a lifetime.

I will forever be grateful to this man for having me on… pic.twitter.com/9RHVBq4gpB

— Jaimee Michell Founder of Gays Against Groomers (@thegaywhostrayd) April 24, 2023

“Fox News will not continue to exist without him. There is no reason to tune in anymore. But he will thrive and dominate wherever he goes.”

“Tucker sent me a text message out of the blue several years ago just to tell me he appreciates my work. I had a much lower profile back then. I didn’t think he even knew who I was. He took the time to track my number down and reach out. Very few people like that in this business,” Daily Wire podcast host Matt Walsh said. 

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“Extremely rare that someone much higher on the totem pole will send you a word of encouragement when they stand to gain nothing from it. There are only a few people in the business who will do something like that and one of them is Tucker Carlson. Great talent and a good man.”

A video of Carlson interacting with a man about fly fishing also started making the rounds again on social media.

In addition to being the most important conservative voice in America, Tucker Carlson is also a genuinely good person as anyone who has ever had a conversation with him knows. This legendary video also demonstrates that.
pic.twitter.com/5YWLiGurjh

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023

“In addition to being the most important conservative voice in America, Tucker Carlson is also a genuinely good person as anyone who has ever had a conversation with him knows. This legendary video also demonstrates that,” conservative social media influencer Greg Price wrote in the caption.

“Tucker Carlson once called me, out of the blue, because he had heard through friends that I was going through a rough patch. We had never spoken before, but he took 45 minutes out of his night to offer support/advice. It remains one of the most surreal experiences of my life,” National Review staff writer Nate Hochman said. 

“One of the most powerful men in conservative politics took the time to sit down and call some random 23 year old kid he had never met — just to tell him to hang in there, and to ask if there was anything he could do to help. It’s something I will never forget.”