Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has released a controversial interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, making him the first Western media figure to do so since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. The interview, which took place in the gilded hall at the Kremlin palace in Moscow, covered a variety of topics ranging from the war in Ukraine to President Joe Biden and Elon Musk. While the interview did not break new ground, it highlighted Carlson’s consistent spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as his criticism of Ukraine.
During the interview, Putin expressed his belief that the war in Ukraine could be resolved if the West stopped supplying weapons to the country. He also stated that he saw no point in calling President Biden, who has refused to speak to him unless there are genuine conditions for negotiating a peace deal. Putin’s stance on the conflict in Ukraine seemed to align with that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed he would settle the war shortly after winning the presidency.
The release of this interview comes at a time when Russia appears to have gained momentum on the battlefield, while U.S. aid for Ukraine remains uncertain in Congress. Polls show that a majority of Americans believe the U.S. should support Ukraine, but there are concerns about prioritizing domestic issues over foreign interventions. Republicans are particularly skeptical about sending more aid to Ukraine.
One of the key moments in the interview was when Carlson pressed Putin about detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Putin’s government has been holding Gershkovich for more than a year on charges of espionage. The U.S. government has determined that Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained and has made offers to secure his release, which Moscow has rejected.
Throughout the interview, Putin dominated the conversation and occasionally joked and snarled at Carlson’s expense. Carlson struggled to interrupt Putin during his lengthy overview of Russian history. The Russian president also made false claims that Russia did not attack Ukraine and expressed a positive relationship with former U.S. President George W. Bush. He also praised Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and owner of X.
In a social media post prior to releasing the interview, Carlson stated that he wanted to sit down with Putin because most Americans are uninformed about how the war in Ukraine is reshaping the world. He blamed the U.S. mainstream media for not telling the truth and claimed that the U.S. government had thwarted his previous attempts to interview Putin.
Following the release of the interview, many Western journalists took to social media to express their frustration, stating that they had been trying to secure interviews with Putin for the past two years. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour called Carlson’s claims “absurd.” It is important to note that journalists in Russia face extreme reporting restrictions, including arrest or fines for criticizing the war in Ukraine.
Overall, Carlson’s interview with Putin has sparked controversy due to his history of defending Putin and questioning U.S. support for Ukraine. Critics argue that he is a propagandist rather than a journalist, pushing extreme right-wing views and conspiracy theories. However, the interview provides insight into Putin’s perspective on the conflict in Ukraine and his relationship with Western leaders.
