On February 8, just over a week before Navalny's death, Carlson made global headlines when he broadcast a two-hour interview with Putin. He framed it as a media coup — even as critics noted that Putin dominated the interview, offering scattered accounts of Russian history while Carlson spent most of the time in silence.
Then, on Monday, Carlson was questioned at the World Government Summit in Dubai, where Egyptian journalist Emad El-Din Adeeb asked him why he had not challenged Putin on Navalny, freedom of expression in Russia, or restrictions on dissent before the next election.
“I didn't talk about the things that every other American media is talking about,” Carlson responded, adding: “I've spent my life talking to people who run countries, in various countries, and I've concluded that: Every leader kills people, including my own.” Every leader kills people, some kill more than others. Leadership requires killing people. Sorry, that's why I don't want to be a leader.
The comments appeared to come back to haunt him on Friday after Navalny's death was announced.
Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), accused Carlson of “conducting a bunch of Russian propaganda in Moscow.” He then publicly said that “leaders kill people,” and then Putin killed Navalny — the most famous and powerful dissident. Americans must not forget this.” chirp.
And President Biden's granddaughter, Naomi Biden, too chirp A recent video of Carlson promoting life in Russia while visiting a grocery store. “Has anything ever aged so quickly and so quickly?” I wrote on Friday morning. He added: “If Russia is so great, Tucker Carlson should move there and run for president.”
Former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming, Liz Cheney Named Carlson called “Putin’s useful idiot,” as she shared a story about Navalny’s death.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-R), who was Previously also called Tucker One of Russia’s “useful idiots” wrote after Navalny’s death: “History will not be merciful Those in America who apologize to Putin Praise for Russian tyranny.
Carlson did not respond to a request Friday afternoon for comment from The Washington Post. However, he said in a statement to the Daily Mail on Friday that what happened to Navalny was “horrific.” The whole thing is barbaric and terrible. “No decent person will defend her.”
He added that his comments at the summit “have nothing to do with Navalny.” I wasn't pointing it out, which is obvious in context, and I certainly wasn't making excuses for killing people. “I am completely against killing, as I said.”
The Kremlin said last week that it routinely blocks interview requests from major Western media outlets, but Carlson's request was granted because his “position is different.”
The move was interpreted as a sign of Putin's interest in reaching Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump, many of whom expressed admiration for the Russian leader and questioned U.S. support for Ukraine, even as other Republicans sought to call out Putin's defenders. the party.
Surprisingly — or perhaps unsurprisingly — Putin was among the critics of Carlson's interview, saying this week that he was disappointed by the lack of “tough questions,” without acknowledging that he dominated the interview and berated Carlson when he interrupted.
“Frankly, I did not get complete satisfaction from this interview,” Putin said.
Robyn Dixon, Natalia Abakumova and Francesca Epel contributed to this report.
