Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host, has conducted a controversial interview with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, as indicated by the Kremlin on Wednesday. The interview raises speculation of Mr. Putin’s potential attempt to appeal to American conservatives amidst debates over U.S. assistance to Ukraine. Given Mr. Carlson’s skepticism of additional American support for Ukraine, the interview represents Mr. Putin’s effort to present himself as a global leader advocating for traditional values, such as his opposition to L.G.B.T. rights, to a potentially sympathetic American audience. The significance of this interview is particularly emphasized as U.S. aid to Kyiv remains stalled in Congress, with an impending vote in the Senate expected to fail.
This unprecedented interview would mark Mr. Putin’s first formal engagement with a Western media figure since the onset of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and his first with an American outlet since speaking with CNBC in 2021. Through this interview, Mr. Putin seeks to capitalize on a unique opportunity to reach a potentially sympathetic American audience, particularly amidst the looming political division in the United States concerning Ukraine. While the anticipated interview could potentially stir controversy, Mr. Carlson and Mr. Putin both have their motives. For Mr. Carlson, it presents an opportunity to reclaim a prominent platform in conservative media, particularly after his sudden departure from Fox News. On the other hand, Mr. Putin stands to benefit from a prominent promoter of his anti-Ukraine messages in the United States.
Various Western media outlets have requested interviews with President Putin. Despite Mr. Carlson’s assertion that he was alone in this, Mr. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, stated that Mr. Carlson’s claim was inaccurate. The lead-up to this long-anticipated interview is marked by a mix of condemnation and praise from prominent figures. Amidst these developments, Mr. Putin’s interview with Mr. Carlson in Moscow appears to be part of Russia’s broader strategic efforts to influence American conservatives amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.