Tucker Carlson's visit to Russia sparks speculation about Putin interview
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who now has a show on the social network reaches. President Vladimir V. Putin.
If so, Mr. Carlson would be the first American media figure to get a formal interview with the Russian leader since he invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has indicated that Putin rejected requests from Western new media because their countries were “stunned” by anti-Russian propaganda. But Mr. Carlson has been a defender of Mr. Putin as he attacked his Western critics, putting him at the forefront of a pro-Putin wing of the American conservative movement.
In a phone call with reporters on Monday, Mr. Peskov said: “Every day many foreign journalists come to the Russian Federation. Many continue to work here, and we welcome that.” He added: “As for possible interviews with the president, including with foreign media, we have nothing to report at this time.”
Russian media on Monday showed a black Mercedes bus that would transport Mr. Carlson through Moscow and then into the state administration building where Mr. Peskov's office is located.
On television and online, Russian state media have treated Mr. Carlson as a visiting celebrity, offering a stream of photos and videos of his various stops — at the airport, dining at a restaurant, attending the Spartacus ballet at the Bolshoi Theater.
In a video that was widely circulated, including on Asked about a possible interview with Mr. Putin, Mr. Carlson shrugged and said, “We'll see.”
Less than a year ago, Mr. Carlson was one of cable news's top stars as the host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News, where he was best known for trafficking in white nationalist themes and conspiracy theories.
Fox abruptly canceled its program last spring, after a series of controversies both on and off the air. Mr. Carlson has had a much lower profile from his new spot on X, where he started his own show last year.
When photos and videos of Mr. Carlson in Moscow began circulating on social media this weekend, his fans rejoiced in the hope that an interview was in the offing — and his critics called what they depicted an appeasement for an autocrat who waged an illegal war while at home brutally cracked down on dissent.
The news of his arrival in Russia was met with a decidedly warm response in Moscow. In a report on the local reaction to his visit, a woman told an interviewer from the Russian state broadcaster Sputnik: “He is the bravest and most courageous American journalist today.” One man adds: “He is known for telling the truth, which is why he is often criticized in the United States.”
Mr. Carlson is a well-known face in the country. While at Fox, Mr. Carlson's comments were often seen on Russian state television, including those portraying Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, as a “dictator” waging a “regime change” war against Russia on behalf of Americans and British. masters. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It did so with the explicit aim of ousting Zelensky's government.
After Mr. Carlson resigned from Fox, Russian media attributed this to him 'fearless' reporting about Ukraine.
Mr Carlson has claimed without evidence that the US government had thwarted his earlier attempt to interview Mr Putin.
Mr. Carlson has promoted his show on X as a bastion of free speech.
Mr Putin has stepped up his clampdown on freedom of expression in Russia during the Ukrainian war. Media outlets in the country were instructed to speak of a 'special military operation'. Journalists could face jail time for calling it an invasion.
Putin's government has been holding Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in prison for nearly a year. The government has accused him of espionage – a charge strongly denied by Mr John. Gershkovich, his newspaper and the US government, which has stated that he is being wrongfully detained.