Tucker Carlson, the previous host of Fox Information who now has a present on the social community X, has been seen in Moscow in current days, resulting in hypothesis in Russia and the US that he’ll attain the his long-term purpose of the interview. President Vladimir V. Putin.
If that’s the case, Mr. Carlson can be the primary American media determine to land a proper interview with the Russian chief since he invaded Ukraine practically two years in the past.
Mr. Putin's spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, indicated that Mr. Putin was denying requests from new Western shops as a result of their international locations had been “surprised” by anti-Russian propaganda. However Mr. Carlson has been a defender of Mr. Putin whereas attacking his Western critics, inserting him on the forefront of a pro-Putin wing of the American conservative motion.
In a name with reporters on Monday, Mr. Peskov mentioned: “Many overseas journalists come to the Russian Federation day-after-day. Many proceed to work right here, and we welcome that.” He added: “Relating to potential interviews with the president, together with with overseas media, we have now nothing to report in the mean time.”
Russian media on Monday confirmed a black Mercedes van it mentioned was transporting Mr. Carlson round Moscow coming into and leaving the state administrative constructing that homes Mr. Peskov's workplace.
On tv and on-line, Russian state media handled Mr. Carlson like a visiting celeb, providing a stream of pictures and movies of his varied stops — on the airport, eating at a restaurant, taking within the Spartacus ballet on the Bolshoi Theatre.
In a broadly circulated video, together with on X, Mr Tucker advised a self-professed fan that he was there as a result of “I needed to speak to folks and go searching and see the way it's performed – and it's performed very properly.” Requested a couple of potential interview with Mr. Putin, Mr. Carlson shrugged and mentioned, “We'll see.”
Lower than a yr in the past, Mr. Carlson was one of many first stars on cable information, because the host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox Information, the place he was finest identified for dealing in white nationalist subjects and conspiracy theories.
Fox abruptly canceled his program final spring, after a collection of controversies each on and off the air. Mr. Carlson has saved a a lot decrease profile since his new perch at X, the place he began his personal present final yr.
As images and movies of Mr Carlson in Moscow started to flow into on social media over the weekend, his followers reveled of their hope that an interview was within the offing – and his critics slammed what they described it because the appeasement of an autocrat waging an unlawful battle whereas brutally suppressing dissent at dwelling.
The information of his arrival in Russia obtained a decidedly heat response in Moscow. In a report on the native response to his go to, one lady tells an interviewer on the Russian state outlet Sputnik: “He’s the bravest and most brave American journalist immediately.” A person provides: “He’s identified to inform the reality, which is why he typically faces criticism in the US.”
Mr. Carlson is a well-known face within the nation. When he was nonetheless at Fox, Mr. Carlson's feedback have been typically featured on Russian state tv, together with people who painted Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, as a “dictator” waging a battle of “change of regime” in opposition to Russia on the behest of the US and the British. lecturers Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It did so with the categorical goal of eradicating Mr. Zelensky's authorities.
After Mr. Carlson's cancellation at Fox, Russian shops credited him for his “fearless” reporting on Ukraine.
Mr Carlson claimed with out proof that the US authorities had thwarted his previous try and interview Mr Putin.
Mr. Carlson promoted his present on X as a bastion of free speech.
Mr. Putin has stepped up his restrictions on free speech in Russia throughout the Ukraine battle. The media within the nation have been ordered to confer with it as a “particular navy operation”. Journalists face potential jail time for calling an invasion.
Mr. Putin's authorities has held Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Road Journal, in jail for practically a yr. The federal government accused him of espionage – a cost vehemently denied by Mr Gershkovich, his newspaper and the US authorities, which mentioned he had been wronged.
