Tucker Carlson May Interview Putin: What You Need to Know
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host turned X social network show presenter, has sparked speculation by appearing in Moscow recently. Rumors suggest he may be on the brink of achieving his long-desired goal of interviewing President Vladimir V. Putin, potentially making him the first American media figure to do so since the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago.
While President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, has indicated the leader’s reluctance to grant interviews to Western media due to perceived anti-Russian propaganda, Carlson’s track record as a defender of Putin and critic of Western nations places him in a unique position. Peskov stated that there is currently no update on potential interviews with foreign media, including Carlson.
Russian media has embraced Carlson’s presence, portraying him as a celebrity visitor and showcasing his activities in Moscow, including visits to various locations and interactions with locals. Carlson himself mentioned his interest in speaking with people and exploring Moscow during his visit, but remained non-committal about a potential interview with Putin.
Formerly a prominent figure on Fox News, Carlson faced controversies before the network abruptly canceled his show last spring. Since then, he has had a lower-profile position on X. His presence in Moscow has generated both excitement among his supporters, who hope for a Putin interview, and criticism from his detractors, who view it as legitimizing an autocratic regime.
Carlson’s past commentaries, which often appeared on Russian state television, have portrayed Ukraine’s President Zelensky as a “dictator” supported by Western powers, aligning with Russia’s narrative of the conflict. However, his cancellation at Fox was attributed to his reporting on Ukraine, which Russian outlets hailed as “fearless.”
Accusations of U.S. government interference have been leveled by Carlson regarding past attempts to interview Putin, although these claims lack substantiation. Despite the controversy surrounding him, Carlson has positioned his X show as a champion of free speech.
Meanwhile, President Putin’s crackdown on free speech in Russia has intensified during the Ukrainian conflict, with media outlets facing restrictions on how they can report on the war. Journalists, including Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal, have been targeted, with Gershkovich facing espionage charges that he and his supporters vehemently deny.
BREAKING: Tucker Carlson reportedly spotted in Moscow, Russia as speculation swirls that he will be interviewing Vladimir Putin.
Carlson said he previously planned on interviewing Putin until he found out the U.S. government was spying on him.
"The NSA broke into my signal… pic.twitter.com/MahlBIDEFa
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 3, 2024
