Tucker Carlson sparks outrage for claiming ‘every leader kills people’ – as ex-Fox News host is challenged for not grilling Putin over his bloody war with Ukraine
Tucker Carlson has responded to the challenges for not criticizing Vladimir Putin enough in his controversial interview, saying “leadership requires killing people.”
The former Fox News host interviewed the Russian president on February 6.
But the interview was labeled “soft,” with even Vladimir Putin saying he was disappointed by Carlson’s questions.
Just days before it was announced that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was dead, Carlson defended his interview.
When he appeared at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Monday, February 12, he was interviewed by Egyptian journalist Emad El Din Adeeb.
The former Fox News host interviewed the Russian president on February 6
Egyptian journalist Emad El Din Adeeb (left) interviews Mr Carlson at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Monday, February 12
Mr Adeeb said: “You have to challenge the role of an interview, and you are a master of your craft.
‘It’s not up to me to lecture you on that, but you do have to challenge some ideas.
“For example, you didn’t talk about freedom of expression in Russia, you didn’t talk about Alexei Navalny, about murders, about restrictions on the opposition in the upcoming elections.”
Mr. Carlson responded, “I haven’t talked about the things that all the other American media talk about.
‘Because they fall under this and because all my life I have talked to people who run countries in different countries and have come to the conclusion: that every leader kills people, including my leader.
“Every leader kills people, some kill more than others.
‘Leadership requires killing people, sorry, that’s why I wouldn’t want to be a leader.
‘This restriction on the press is universal in the United States, I know that because I have experienced it. Just ask my previous: I’ve had a lot of jobs.
“And I’ve been doing this for 34 years and I know how it works and there’s more censorship in Russia than in the United States, but there’s a lot in the United States.
“And so at some point it’s like people can decide whether they think, which countries they think are better, which systems they think are better. I just want to know what he thinks, that was the whole point.”
“Leadership requires killing people, sorry, that’s why I wouldn’t want to be a leader,” Mr. Carlson said
Tucker Carlson during his ‘soft’ interview with Vladimir Putin
Tucker Carlson in a Russian supermarket as he frowned at the low price for ‘fresh groceries’
In another bizarre video, Mr Carlson praised Russia for low supermarket prices and fresh produce.
The media roaster drove a grocery cart through a Russian superstore as he marveled at the stock as he continued his Putin PR tour earlier this week.
In a video uploaded to his social media accounts, Carlson, 54, exclaimed, “Look at that!” sniffing a loaf of bread while jovial music plays.
The former presenter said the revelation took him from ‘amused to rightfully angry’ as his home country apparently charges a lot more for basic needs such as food.
The video was widely ridiculed by people online, as many pointed out the difference between the average wage in Russia – which is the equivalent of $9,072 – or 6.5 times less than the average US salary of $59,428.
During his interview with Putin, Mr. Carlson also praised Russia throughout, calling Moscow “so much more beautiful than any city in my country.”
‘I had no idea. Aesthetically, it’s so much cleaner, safer and more beautiful, he said.
“The architecture, food and services are better than any city in the United States. And this is not ideological.”
Even Putin said he was disappointed by Carlson’s “soft” interview questions
Carlson has since faced criticism for his interview, especially in the wake of opposition leader Alexei Navalny
Navalny (pictured with his wife Yulia Navalnaya) miraculously survived a suspected assassination attempt with a nerve agent while on the run in August 2020. He was evacuated to a hospital in Germany and the use of a Novichok nerve agent was later confirmed.
But since the announcement of Russian opposition leader Navalny’s death in a Russian prison, Carlson has become more critical of Putin.
The former Fox News host told DailyMail.com that he was on a plane traveling from Dubai when Navalny’s death was announced.
“I didn’t even know it was happening until I saw the Daily Mail story,” Carlson explained.
In an exclusive statement to DailyMail.com, Carlson said: “It is horrific what happened to Navalny.
‘It’s all barbaric and terrible. No decent person would defend it.”
Russian news sources announced Navalny’s death on Friday morning, citing the Siberian prison where he served a 19-year sentence for “extremism,” sparking global outrage.
“On February 16, 2024, in Penal Colony No. 3, convict Navalny AA felt unwell after a walk and almost immediately lost consciousness,” a statement from prison officials said.
“The emergency doctors have confirmed the death of the convict.”
World leaders, including the Latvian president, have blamed Navalny’s death on Putin.
Carlson faced a backlash after his “soft” interview with Putin, especially since Alexei Navalny’s death was announced.
Meghan McCain, former co-host of The View, said: “Remember that Putin’s favorite useful idiot, Kremlin propagandist Tucker Carlson, said nothing about Navalny’s life when asked about him a few days ago.”
Former Republican strategist Stuart Stevens said, “As Tucker Carlson makes clear, Trump supporters look at Russia and wonder, ‘Why can’t America be Russia?’
“They hate the America we love. They must be defeated.’