Tucker Carlson’s Interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin: A Historic Moment in Journalism

Tucker Carlson, the renowned American journalist, made headlines on February 6, 2024, when he announced that he would be interviewing Russian President Vladimir Putin. This interview marked a significant moment in journalism, as Carlson would be the first Western journalist to speak with Putin since the start of Moscow’s invasion into Ukraine nearly two years prior.

In a statement posted on social media, Carlson expressed his reasons for conducting the interview, stating, “We’re in journalism. Our duty is to inform people.” He acknowledged that Western governments would likely try to censor the interview due to political tensions.

Rumors of Carlson’s impending interview with Putin had been circulating since he was spotted in Moscow. He had previously hinted at the possibility during a conversation with a Russian reporter from state channel Izvestia, saying, “We’ll see.”

Carlson’s visit to Russia was first reported by the Telegram channel Mash, which published a photo of him attending the ballet “Spartacus” at the famous Bolshoi Theater. According to the channel, Carlson had been in Russia since February 1.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the speculation regarding the interview. He stated, “Many foreign journalists come to Russia every day, many continue to work here, and we welcome this.”

Moscow has imprisoned two American journalists for reporting within Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and dual Russian-American citizen Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have both been detained.

In his statement, Carlson criticized Western media for misleading their audience about the war in Ukraine. He claimed that their media outlets were corrupt and that they lied to their readers and viewers by omission.

Carlson has a history of praising Putin while speaking critically of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russian state media often airs segments from Carlson to cast doubt on American institutions and political leaders. Recently, Russian state media seized on Carlson’s claims that former President Donald Trump is being unfairly prosecuted in the U.S. Putin described the indictments against Trump as an example of “the rot in the American political system, which cannot claim to be able to teach others about democracy.”

In September 2023, Carlson expressed interest in interviewing Putin during an interview with Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche. He stated, “I tried to interview Vladimir Putin, but the U.S. government stopped me.”

After being fired by Fox News, Carlson launched his own show on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In the first episode of the show, he employed antisemitic tropes when describing Zelenskyy, who is Jewish. Comparing Jewish people with rats was a strategy commonly used by Nazi propaganda.

The war in Ukraine will enter its third year at the end of the month. In December, Putin told constituents that there will be no peace in Ukraine until Russia achieves its goals.

Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin is a historic moment in journalism. It represents an opportunity for the world to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives and motivations of two influential leaders. As tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate, this interview may provide valuable insights into the complex geopolitical landscape of our time.

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About the Author:
Sophia Barkoff is a broadcast associate with CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” She covers foreign affairs, often focusing on national security and U.S. foreign policy with an emphasis on Russia and Eastern Europe.

First published on February 6, 2024 / 3:00 PM EST

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