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When despots want to get their message across, Tucker Carlson (54) is there. The right-wing conservative American presenter, who was thrown out by Fox News, has announced that he will interview Russian President Vladimir Putin (71) – and broadcast the conversation on platform X. It would be the first interview by a Western journalist with the Russian ruler since the outbreak of war almost two years ago. It is not yet known when this will be released.
Countless journalists have had their investigations rejected. Why does Putin say yes to Carlson? Mykola Makhortykh, 36, a Ukrainian researcher at the University of Bern, said: “The Kremlin chose Carlson because he had long ago given up objectivity and instead promoted a very specific political agenda.” Moscow is not interested in a real confrontation with the Western press. “On the contrary, Russia is detaining both domestic and foreign journalists,” Makhortykh said.
Carlson, whose great-great-grandfather emigrated to the US from Switzerland in 1860, made a name for himself when he regularly interviewed Donald Trump (77) and made propaganda for him during his presidency. The friendship between the two goes so far that Trump could make him vice president if he wins the election in November.
Fake news about Switzerland
Rating king Tucker managed to spread conspiracy theories, hate and criticism at Fox News for years. About three million Americans watched him every night. He described the storm on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as an action orchestrated by the FBI. When the Russians invaded Ukraine, he railed against the Ukrainian government: “We defend a regime that arrests its political opponents and shuts down the opposition media. What is at stake, other than a reward for Biden families?”
As the war progressed, he spread other false reports, such as that Ukraine was operating bioweapons laboratories with US help. He has also made our country a problem. He had a commentator’s report on alleged real estate purchases by Ukrainian politicians in Switzerland. The presented cadastral extracts turned out to be false.
Even Murdoch had had enough
His interviews with controversial politicians such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (60) or Argentinian President Javier Milei (53) are flattering. His conversation with Putin will probably be the same. Makhortykh: «I expect that we will not hear anything new. Because Vladimir Putin has not become more inventive over time, especially when it comes to justifying the war against Ukraine.”
Carlson was fired from Fox News nearly a year ago after the network agreed to pay more than $787 million in damages to Dominion Voting Systems. The broadcaster wanted to settle the legal dispute with the voting machine manufacturer over the spread of false claims about the 2020 US presidential election.
According to media reports, the reason for Carlson’s expulsion was that his Kremlin propaganda was too much for even then Fox News boss Rupert Murdoch (92). Since then, the moderator has spread his theories about X – for example, that the US military has recovered a dead UFO crew.
According to Makhortykh, the interview with Carlson shows Putin’s great fear of independent journalism. Considering that Carlson still has many supporters, you should not underestimate the positive impact on Trump in the US. Makhortykh: “By putting the spotlight on Putin and his false claims about the war, he can portray Biden’s efforts as harmful to the US.”
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
