Furious American talk show star Tucker Carlson, a close acquaintance of former US President and 2024 contender Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday that he was in Moscow interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
With this statement, Carlson—who is renowned for his fervent conservatism—becomes the first prominent figure in American media to speak with Putin in an official capacity. Putin’s forceful military foray into Ukraine over two years ago has been extensively reported by Russian state media.
Although Carlson said that the interview will be freely accessible on his Tucker Carlson own website, he did not specify when it would air.
Carlson stated, “We are here to interview the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin,” in a video that was uploaded on Ex (previously Twitter). We’re going to accomplish that shortly.”
“There is undoubtedly risk involved in doing this type of interview. Thus, we have given it great attention for several months.”
In April of last year, Elon Musk’s social media platform, which Carlson owns, hosted a how on the network after he was fired from his prime-time hosting position on the powerful conservative network Fox News.
Carlson added that when Musk’s interview with Putin was eventually released on Ex, he had pledged not to edit or impede it.
Generous American media pundits have already chastised Carlson amid whispers and suspicions that he was befriending the head of the Kremlin. Carlson is well-known for endorsing Trump and a number of conspiracy theories.
Carlson’s trip to Moscow has been eagerly covered by Russian official media, which has shown pictures of him at the airport with controversial performers and at the renowned Bolshoi Theater, where he saw a ballet performance.
Carlson depicted his journey to Russia for the interview as a self-financed journalistic endeavor in his video.
In our profession, it’s crucial for the public to stay informed. Yet, a vast majority of Americans remain in the dark about the ongoing two-year conflict with Ukraine, a conflict that holds significant global ramifications.
Many fail to grasp the complexities of the situation, whether it’s the unrest 600 miles away in Ukraine or the dynamics here in Russia. However, it’s imperative that they do so, as there’s much at stake.
Carlson criticized American media for orchestrating numerous interviews with Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, seemingly to rally support for increased U.S. involvement in the conflict, at the expense of American taxpayers.
His remarks align with President Biden’s recent warning, issued on Tuesday, cautioning that failure to secure additional U.S. funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression could empower the Kremlin.
“Ukraine’s time is running out,” Biden emphasized, urging swift approval of a $118 billion bill to fortify Ukrainian resolve. Nevertheless, Republican threats to block aid over new sanctions loom large.
Carlson accused Western media of failing to try to interview Putin; journalists quickly denied this.
American and other international media have covered the crisis in Ukraine extensively since Moscow’s intervention two years ago, but they have encountered more and more obstacles while reporting from inside Russia.
With two American citizens now in detention—Wall Street Journal writer Ivan Gershkovich and Radio Free Europe’s Alyssa Kurmashaeva—Carlson’s outreach to Putin demonstrates a noteworthy display of resistance among American journalists in Russia.
“Carlson’s upcoming interview with Putin aligns with his long history of promoting Kremlin propaganda,” claimed left-leaning watchdog Media Matters. They pointed out that Russian state media had frequently praised his pro-Ukrainian position.
Carlson set viewership records while hosting Fox News. Leading Republican politician, he has regularly interviewed Trump and has come under fire for spreading misinformation about the “great replacement” of white Americans, misinformation about vaccines, transphobic remarks, and Trump’s unfounded allegations of election fraud.
He was removed following defamation litigation; Dominion Voting Systems claimed that Fox News had broadcast misleading statements following the elections, resulting in a $787.5 million loss.
