Tucker Carlson was met with several adoring fans during a walk in DC after Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The footage, posted to X Monday afternoon, shows the former Fox News star walking through the streets with no security, taking the time to chat with people.

‘Hey Tucker! Our country’s back! Our country’s back, Sir!’ one person was heard shouting in the clip, as more than a dozen instantly recognized the TV personality.

All appeared to relish in the opportunity, and Carlson was ready to reciprocate.

He agreed to take pictures and even joked with members of the welcome wagon, after nearly two years off the air. 

He rose through the ranks at Rupert Murdoch’s news station to become one of the highest-rated anchors on cable TV, but was suddenly forced out in April 2023 following a sterling 14 years. At the time, he was the most watched person on cable.

While the stint was largely successful, it was also riddled with controversy, thanks to the 55-year-old’s opinionated commentary. Journalist Brian Stelter, the former chief media correspondent for CNN, reported it was that reputation that got him nixed.

The Carlson clip, posted to X by a reporter for the Post Millennial, has been viewed more than seven million times.

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‘He’s such a great soul,’ one X user observed, noting Carlson’s welcoming demeanor during the encounters.

‘That’s awesome,’ added someone else, four years removed from protests on the very same streets by members of BLM and Antifa.

Both groups, at the time, clashed with Trump supporters, including far-right groups such as the Proud Boys. 

The latter took issue with the 2020 election result, paving the way for the riots seen at the Capitol a month later.

On Monday, as one of his first acts as president, Trump pardoned all involved – a total of more than 1,500 people.

The decision left many left-leaning journalists incensed, at a time where Fox News for years has surfaced as the top dog in cable news – a spot previously enjoyed by CNN.

Today, Carlson’s old time slot is occupied by his protégé Jesse Watters, and the most-watched cable news program with primetime viewers.

In the last week of December, the show drew 3.1 million viewers – a bit shy of Carlson’s old average nightly audience of 4.33million.

That said, it’s still well above recent Nielsen numbers for CNN and MSNBC. 

As of last week, MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 721,000 total viewers. CNN averaged 501,000 total viewers in the same span.

Carlson, meanwhile, was one of many recognizable faces spotted in the crowded Capitol Rotunda Monday – as media companies and tech firms prepare for a second dose of a Trump presidency.   

Carlson, according to Stelter, believed himself to be irreplaceable because of his success during both Trump and Biden’s first terms, leading to brush-ups with bosses.

His polarizing approach to reporting proved too much for Lachlan Murdoch, the then chief executive of Fox Corp, who pulled the plug, Stelter wrote in his book Network of Lies, first reported on by Vanity Fair.

‘He committed the cardinal Fox sin of acting like he was bigger than the network he was on,’ Stelter said at the time.

‘His brand, weird as it was, revolved around the idea that he could call anyone the C-word, or anything else, at any time. 

‘He could say anything, do anything, and never be held accountable, so long as he commanded the attention and affection of millions.’

Today, Carlson – as many do these days – operates his own podcast.

Last month, longtime Fox star Neil Cavuto left Fox News. Multiple reports indicated the network offered him a new deal, and that Cavuto declined.