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Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who now has a show on the social network Are going to achieve the goal. President Vladimir V. Putin.
If so, Mr. Carlson would be the first American media personality to have a formal interview with a Russian leader since he invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.
Mr Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, indicated that Mr Putin was rejecting requests from Western new outlets because his country had been “fooled” by anti-Russian propaganda. But Mr Carlson has been a defender of Mr Putin while attacking his Western critics, putting him at the forefront of the pro-Putin wing of the American conservative movement.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Peskov said: “Many foreign journalists come to the Russian Federation every day. Many continue to work here and we welcome that.” He added, ”As far as possible interviews with the President, including foreign media, we have nothing to report at this time. “
Russian media on Monday showed a black Mercedes van that was said to be carrying Mr Carlson around Moscow and entering and then exiting a state administrative building, with This is Mr. Peskov’s office.
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 — arriving at the airport, dining at a restaurant, at the Bolshoi. Taking the ballet “Spartacus”. Stage.
In a video widely circulated, including by X, Mr. Tucker told a self-proclaimed fan that he was there because “I wanted to talk to people and look around and see what it was like.” It’s underway – and it’s doing very well.” 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 host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News, where he was known for trafficking in white nationalist themes and conspiracy theories.
Fox abruptly canceled his program last spring after several controversies on and off the air. Mr Carlson has had a very low profile since his new appearance on X, where he started his show last year.
As photos and videos of Mr. Carlson in Moscow began circulating on social media over the weekend, his fans expected an interview to take place — and his critics condemned what they saw as appeasement of an autocratic ruler waging an illegal war. As portrayed. Ruthlessly cracking down on disagreements at home.
There was certainly a warm reaction in Moscow to the news of his arrival in Russia. In a report about the local reaction to his visit, a woman tells an interviewer on the Russian state outlet Sputnik, ”He is the bravest and most courageous American journalist today.” A man adds, ”He is a man of truth-telling. Which is why he often faces criticism in the United States.
Mr Carlson is a well-known face in the country. While he was at Fox, Mr. Carlson’s comments were frequently shown on Russian state television, including one that portrayed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” who is acting against Russia at the behest of the Americans and the British. Was waging a “regime change” war. Masters In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. He did so with the express goal of removing Mr. Zelensky’s government.
Upon Mr. Carlson’s cancellation at Fox, Russian outlets attributed it to his “fearless” reporting on Ukraine.
Mr Carlson has claimed without evidence that the US government had foiled his previous attempt to interview Mr Putin.
Mr. Carlson has promoted his show on X as a bastion of free speech.
Mr Putin has intensified curbs on freedom of expression in Russia during the Ukrainian war. Media outlets in the country were ordered to refer to it as a “special military operation”. Journalists may have to face jail if they call this an attack.
Mr Putin’s government has jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Ivan Gershkovich for nearly a year. The government has accused him of espionage – a charge vigorously denied by Mr. Gershkovich, his newspaper, and the US government, which has declared that he is being held unfairly.
