Chris Wallace rips Tucker Carlson over Putin interview saying former Fox News colleague is worse than a ‘useful idiot’
Chris Wallace has attacked Tucker Carlson during his interview with Vladimir Putin, saying his former Fox colleague is worse than a “useful idiot.”
The veteran journalist, 76, called Carlson “an eager puppy” during his two-hour interview with the Russian president in Moscow this week.
There has been no love loss between Wallace and Carlson in recent years – with Tucker calling his former colleague a ‘bitchy little man’ in the past.”
Wallace said on his CNN show, The Chris Wallace Show, “Tucker Carlson came to Moscow to interview Vladimir Putin. It turned out to be anything but an interview.
Veteran journalist Chris Wallace, 76, called Carlson “an eager puppy” during his two-hour interview with the Russian president in Moscow this week
Tucker traveled to Russia to interview Putin and the two-hour interview aired Thursday
“Putin droned on for two hours and seven minutes, while Tucker sat there like an eager puppy. Every now and then, but rarely, he was asked a question.
“But more telling than what Tucker asked is what he didn’t ask. Nothing about why Putin invaded a sovereign country. Nothing about targeting civilians.
‘Nothing about Russian war crimes.
“A reporter can ask Putin a tough question if he wants a real interview.”
This was clearly in reference to Wallace’s own appearance interviewing Putin – which he did for Fox News in 2018. He briefly showed a clip of that conversation before returning to his monologue.
In the 2018 interview, Wallace asked Putin, “Why do so many people who oppose Vladimir Putin end up dead or close?”
Wallace continued in his speech: ‘During the Cold War, gullible Westerners who spread Soviet propaganda were dismissed as ‘useful idiots.’ But calling Tucker that is unfair, for useful idiots.
“No, he made a cynical decision to pursue MAGA’s affection for dictators and what better way to make money than Putin’s Kremlin.”
It was Putin’s first interview with a Western media figure since his massive invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
Putin mocked former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s inability to join the CIA after college during their controversial interview that aired Thursday night.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby tried to minimize the impact of Carlson’s interview ahead of its release: “Remember, you’re listening to Vladimir Putin. And you shouldn’t just accept everything he has to say.’
Putin has sharply limited his contact with the international media since starting the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian authorities have cracked down on independent media, forcing some Russian outlets to close, blocking others and ordering some foreign reporters to leave the country.
Two journalists working for American news organizations – Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal and Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – are in prison.
Asked by Carlson whether Russia would release Gershkovich, Putin said Moscow was open to talks but reiterated that the reporter was accused of espionage, a charge Gershkovich has denied.
“He was caught red-handed when he secretly received classified information,” Putin said of Gershkovich, adding that he did not rule out that the reporter could return home.
“There is no taboo on resolving this issue,” Putin said. “We are ready to solve it, but there are certain conditions that are discussed between special services. I believe an agreement can be reached.”
Meanwhile, Putin mocked former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s inability to join the CIA after college during their controversial interview that aired Thursday night.
The issue arose when Putin, without any resistance from Carlson, blamed the CIA for the 2014 Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine.
The movement began after the country’s then-friendly government was peacefully overthrown by mass protests following the rejection of a cooperation agreement with the European Union.
When Carlson asked who supported the overthrow, Putin replied: “With the support of the CIA, of course, the organization you wanted to join at the time, as I understand.” We have to thank God they didn’t let you in. Although it is a serious organization, I understand it.’
The Russian president then pointed to his own history as an intelligence officer.