Fox News trolls Michael Avenatti during on-camera interview

Fox News

Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.

• Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, traded verbal blows with Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson during an interview on Thursday night.
• Carlson took jabs at Avenatti's rumored presidential run and scrutinized public statements he made about Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
• Fox News trolled Avenatti during the interview with screen graphics, known in the TV industry as "chyrons." Those graphics labeled Avenatti a "CREEPY PORN LAWYER," or "CPL" for short.
• Carlson pointed to Avenatti's "thousand-dollar suit" and accused him of "exploiting" Daniels, who he accused working in "seedy strip clubs."

Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, traded verbal blows with Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson during an interview on Thursday night.

The interview got off to a heated start. Shortly after he was introduced, Avenatti came out swinging.

"Tucker, I understood that I was coming on your show tonight to talk about the case involving my client," Avenatti said, immediately after Carlson played a clip of him giving a speech on a potential presidential run in 2020.

"I didn't tell you that, and I'm happy to talk about the case," Tucker replied.

"Tucker, you got to stop interrupting me, OK?," Avenatti interrupted. "Because one of the conditions of me coming on tonight was, that you are not going to do what you do routinely to guests, which is to talk over them and interrupt them."

REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid

Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, speaks to the media with lawyer Michael Avenatti, outside federal court in Manhattan, April 16, 2018.

Avenatti makes regular appearances on CNN to discuss his client's case and peripheral matters concerning President Donald Trump, but is rarely seen on Fox News. Last month, he cajoled Fox News personality Sean Hannity to invite him on his show.

Carlson took jabs at Avenatti's rumored presidential run by scrutinizing his public statements Avenatti made about Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Avenatti previously criticized Trump's foreign policy decisions and suggested he was "choosing Russia over the hard-working men and women of the intelligence community that risk their lives for this country."

"You're using reckless rhetoric on a subject you don't really understand, that increases the temperature between the United States and a nuclear-armed adversary," Tucker said. "Is that a responsible thing to do?"

"I think under the circumstances I stand by my words," Avenatti said. "And I think for you to lecture me about reckless rhetoric is ironic."

Tucker continued to press Avenatti on his fledgling political aspirations, but the attorney sought a different direction for the interview.

"Let me ask you a question. Why is it that you don't call Donald Trump the 'creepy porn president,'" Avenatti asked, apparently referring to the Fox News chyron that read "CREEPY PORN LAWYER TOYING WITH 2020 RUN."

Getty Images/Business Insider

Fox News host Tucker Carlson speaks at Business Insider's IGNITION conference.

"He's the one that had sex with a four-month-old son at home with my client, without a condom," Avenatti added, referring to the alleged affair between Daniels and Trump in 2006. "But you don't want to acknowledge that."

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement with Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney. Earlier this month, Cohen's shell company, Essential Consultants, agreed to cancel the nondisclosure agreement.

The Fox News opinion host, who said he believes that Trump had the affair, criticized Avenatti for "exploiting" Daniels' case. Taking another personal shot at Avenatti, Carlson pointed at what he called Avenatti's "thousand-dollar suit" while his client was continuing to work at "seedy strip clubs."

"This is America," Avenatti rebutted. "And guess what? If a woman wants to perform in a strip club, she does so, even though people like you demean her."

"When's the last time you saw porn," Avenatti asked.

"You busted me. Actually, maybe humiliation porn," Tucker quipped. "That's why I watch you on CNN."

Tucker had one more jab before he ended the interview and cut to commercial break: "Creepy porn lawyer, great to see you."