who is Tucker Carlson, controversial journalist, present in Russia to interview Vladimir Putin

Tucker Carlson, recently fired from Fox News, is the first Western journalist to interview Vladimir Putin since the start of the war. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accuses him of being the Kremlin’s useful idiot journalist.

This is Vladimir Putin’s first interview with a foreign media since the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president agreed to respond to the American Tucker Carlson, a controversial figure close to Donald Trump and recently fired from the Fox News channel. This interview has not yet been broadcast, it was announced at midnight, Friday February 9, on columnist broadcast a short self-promotion video from Moscow on Tuesday.

This video has more than 95 million views on Thursday February 8 in the morning. Tucker Carlson accuses the Western media of being corrupt, too complacent with Ukraine and presents himself as the one who is on the right side.

Preferential treatment

No Western journalist has interviewed Vladimir Putin since the start of the war, the Kremlin has always refused. Tucker Carlson also forgets Evan Gershkovitch, one of his compatriots, a reporter, imprisoned since May 2023. And the systematic repression of critical voices. He is entitled to preferential treatment, he has a position “different” said the Kremlin spokesperson. The darling of the state media which regularly repeats his pro-Russian analyses. Since his arrival, Carlson has been followed in Moscow like a star wherever he travels.

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Vladimir Putin is getting some great publicity! A priori he will not be put in difficulty by disturbing questions. Tucker Carlson has already distinguished himself with his flattering interviews with the Hungarian Viktor Orbán and the Argentinian Javier Milei. Like them, the Russian president will have the opportunity to relay his propaganda and speak to a part of American opinion, which is favorable to him at a time when Donald Trump and his allies are doing everything, in Washington, to maintain the blockade of the American aid to Ukraine.

Outrage in the Democratic camp

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accuses the journalist of being the Kremlin’s useful idiot. Even the White House reacted. “I don’t think we need an interview with Vladimir Putin to understand his brutality.”said John Kirby, a spokesperson for the executive branch. “What he is doing in Ukraine should be obvious to everyone”. Carlson cannot provide a platform to a leader accused of crimes of genocide before the International Criminal Court. Several parliamentarians are asking that the journalist be added to the list of personalities sanctioned by Brussels.