Tucker Carlson’s hotly anticipated interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been released.
The two-hour interview was posted on Carlson’s website, the Tucker Carlson Network, shortly before 6pm on Thursday.
Speaking through a translator, Putin told Carlson started off by responding to a question about the Ukraine war with: ‘Are we having a talk show or a serious interview?’
He offered Carlson a ‘historical background’ of the conflict in the region, before defending his military’s action.
The controversial interview has drawn criticism from the White House and the EU, both of whom say Putin cannot be trusted and should not be listened to.
In promotional videos, Carlson said he conducted the interview out of duty to the American people who deserve to know more about the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen in his Tucker Carlson interview on Thursday night
Carlson introduced the interview by appearing in a snowy Red Square
Tucker Carlson with Vladimir Putin in their hotly anticipated interview
During the White House daily briefing on Thursday, Communications Coordinator John Kirby told reporters that Americans shouldn’t believe anything Putin says
The interview comes at a crucial time in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the Biden administration coming under mounting scrutiny for its continued support of Ukrainian President Zelensky’s expensive defense against Putin’s army.
Today, before the interview dropped, White House Communications Coordinator John Kirby told Americans not to believe ‘anything’ in the interview.
‘Anybody that watches that interview you need to make sure to remember that you are listening to Vladimir Putin,’ he said.
‘You shouldn’t take at face value anything he has to say.’
Kirby added: ‘The American people know well who is at fault here, and I think they know that there was no ground whatsoever for the invasion two years ago.
‘He invaded a neighboring country without provocation, Ukraine wasn’t a threat to anybody.
‘The American people understand that, the American people understand what Ukraine is fighting for.
‘All they’re asking for is our help, they’re not asking for boots on the ground. I don’t think the American people are going to be swayed by one interview.’
While Democrats have bristled at the thought of Carlson giving Putin a platform – including Hillary Clinton branding Carlson a ‘useful idiot’ – others are embracing it.
Robert Kennedy Jr. praised Carlson’s efforts earlier this week, saying he had every right to speak to the world leader and inform the public of stance.
The Kremlin gleefully promoted the interview earlier this week.
Carlson, 54, announced that he would be interviewing the Russian leader earlier this week, with the interview set to go live tonight on X at 6pm
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