Tucker Carlson Addresses Putin Interview Rumors

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has responded to speculation about whether his visit to Moscow could include an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Conservative media personality Carlson arrived in the Russian capital this month where he was spotted attending the Bolshoi Theater, Russian news outlet Mash reported. Rumors quickly grew about possible motives behind his visit.

On Monday, Russian newspaper Izvestia published a video of Carlson responding to whether he would possibly interview Putin.

"We'll see," Carlson told the person behind the camera.

When the individual pointed out that news of his visit to Russia "blew up" in the United States, Carlson said: "They're crazy, really crazy."

"I love [Moscow]; it's a beautiful city," Carlson told the individual, after learning he was from the Russian capital.

Carlson was the host of Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight from 2016 to 2023 before he was fired by the network last April with no official explanation given by his employer.

Before his departure, he had faced criticism from the left on several issues, including his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine, which had earned him praise among Kremlin propagandists.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

Kremlin propagandist Margarita Simonyan said in August that Carlson had requested to interview Putin.

Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the Russian state-controlled media organization RT, formerly Russia Today, made the comment during a broadcast on state TV channel Russia-1.

"Tucker is doing a great job. By the way, he's really asking for an interview with Vladimir Putin! It would be great if someone hears this and gets this message to the president," she said.

Carlson didn't say at the time whether Simonyan's claims were true or not and did not respond to a request for comment by Newsweek.

A few weeks later, Carlson claimed the U.S. government prevented him from interviewing Putin.

"I tried to interview Vladimir Putin, and the U.S. government stopped me," he told Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche in an article published in September, without elaborating on which arm of the U.S. government allegedly blocked the interview.

"By the way, nobody defended me. I don't think there was anybody in the news media who said, 'Wait a second. I may not like this guy, but he has a right to interview anyone he wants, and we have a right to hear what Putin says.'

"You're not allowed to hear Putin's voice. Because why? There was no vote on it. No one asked me. I'm 54 years old. I've paid my taxes and followed the law," Carlson said.

Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via worldnews@newsweek.com.

Update 2/5/24, 5:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.