Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, 54, has allegedly set foot in Moscow, stirring speculation about a potential interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The controversy deepens as political figures and media personalities weigh in on Carlson's rumored visit, while Carlson himself remains tight-lipped.
Tucker Carlson's Moscow Visit Sparks Putin Interview
ESZTERGOM, HUNGARY - AUGUST 07: Tucker Carlson speaks during the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Feszt on August 7, 2021 in Esztergom, Hungary. The multiday political event was organized by the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), a privately managed foundation that recently received more than $1.7 billion in government money and assets. The leader of its main board, Balazs Orban, who is also a state secretary in the prime minister's office, said MCC's priority is promoting "patriotism" among the next generation of Hungary's leaders.
Reports suggest that Carlson arrived in the Russian capital on February 1, and photographs circulating in Russian media depict him attending a performance of Spartacus at Moscow's renowned Bolshoi Theatre. The images have triggered widespread rumors of an imminent interview with Putin, fueling debates and drawing mixed reactions from various quarters.
Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has come to Carlson's defense, emphasizing the importance of a free press and praising figures like Carlson for their commitment to truth-telling.
Greene took to social media, asserting that critics, particularly Democrats and media propagandists, are uncomfortable with Carlson deviating from the conventional narrative.
Carlson's arrival in Moscow has sparked speculation about the possibility of him becoming the first Western journalist to interview Putin since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The former news anchor, known for his past defense of Putin, claims to have attempted an interview with the Russian president last year, only to be thwarted by the US government.
Expressing dissent against America's support for Ukraine, Carlson has placed blame on the West for the invasion, a stance that has generated both support and criticism. His previous show, "Tucker Carlson Tonight," once the most-watched cable news program in the US, was abruptly taken off the air in April 2023. Carlson has since launched his own show, where he has interviewed controversial figures such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Andrew Tate, as per to Daily Mail.
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Russian TV Teases Carlson-Putin Interview
The rumors of a potential interview with Putin gained momentum during the summer when Russian state television ran advertisements featuring Carlson, hinting at a significant move: "Russia, the high-profile American presenter is moving to another level. Here." Russia 1 channel anchor Vladimir Solovyov extended an invitation, urging Carlson to "come join us" after his departure from Fox News.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, hinted in September that the time might come for a Western media interview with the Russian president. Peskov, however, left the matter open-ended, stating, 'Whether Carlson will be among those who will be considered for an interview, well, let's wait and see.'
Particularly, Bill Kristol the former chief of staff of the Reagan administration has proposed an indefinite ban on Carlson's return to the United States, comparing the contentious trip to Hanoi in 1972 with Carlson's travel to Moscow.
Despite the growing debate around Carlson's visit, many influential people voice worries over possible collaborations with Russian state-run media. Bill Browder, a British businessman who has been critical of Putin, chastised Carlson harshly and questioned his decisions in light of Russia's activities in Ukraine.
Carlson continues to be a divisive figure as the story develops, with opposing viewpoints coming from a range of political backgrounds. Although DailyMail.com has contacted Carlson over the subject, the powerful host has not responded as of yet, which adds to the mystery surrounding his purported trip to Moscow, according to The Telegraph.
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