Putin vs Carlson: A Tale of Two Interviews

On February 8, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down with Tucker Carlson, a conservative American commentator and former Fox News host, for a rare interview with western media. The interview, which lasted more than two hours, was aired on Carlson’s own streaming service, Tucker Carlson Tonight.

The interview sparked controversy and criticism, not only for its timing and context, but also for its content and tone. Many observers accused Carlson of being too soft and deferential to Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 and has been widely condemned by the international community for his authoritarian and aggressive policies.

One of the most vocal critics of the interview was Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times and the last Western journalist to interview Putin in 2019. Barber, who spoke to Times Radio on February 9, 2024, shared his insights and analysis on Putin’s interview with Carlson, and compared it with his own experience of interviewing the Russian leader.

Barber said that Putin chose Carlson because he knew he had a sympathetic ear and a large audience in the US, and that Putin’s goal was to weaken America and the West by sowing division and distrust. He said that Putin exploited Carlson’s anti-establishment and anti-interventionist views, and presented himself as a defender of national sovereignty and traditional values.

Barber criticized Carlson for asking soft and leading questions, and for not challenging Putin on his human rights violations, his interference in foreign elections, his aggression in Ukraine and Syria, and his role in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader. He said that Carlson failed to hold Putin accountable for his actions, and allowed him to spread misinformation and propaganda.

Barber compared his own experience of interviewing Putin in 2019, and described how Putin played mind games with him, such as making him wait for hours, asking him unexpected questions, and giving him icy stares. He said that Putin was very well-prepared and well-informed, and that he tried to intimidate and manipulate him.

Barber also revealed some of the topics that Putin discussed with him, such as his views on Donald Trump, Brexit, China, NATO, and liberalism. He said that Putin was very candid and frank, and that he expressed his disdain for the liberal order and the Western alliance. He said that Putin claimed that liberalism had outlived its purpose, and that he preferred a multipolar world where Russia had a greater role and influence.

Barber concluded that Putin was a master of manipulation and propaganda, and that he controlled the narrative with Carlson by avoiding accountability and presenting himself as a strong and confident leader. He said that Putin’s interview with Carlson was a strategic move to undermine the West and to boost his domestic popularity ahead of the presidential election in 2024.

Barber’s assessment of Putin’s interview with Carlson is supported by many experts and analysts, who have also pointed out the flaws and dangers of Carlson’s approach. They have argued that Carlson gave Putin a platform to propagate his agenda, and that he failed to challenge him on the facts and the values that matter to the US and the world.

The contrast between Putin’s interview with Carlson and his interview with Barber is striking, and it shows how different journalists can elicit different responses and impressions from the same source. It also shows how important it is to be well-informed, well-prepared, and well-principled when conducting interviews with powerful and controversial figures like Putin.