Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has slammed conservative commentator Tucker Carlson for his “ridiculous interview” with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“While people all over the world are paying attention to that ridiculous interview with Vladimir Putin that Tucker Carlson gave, we are fooled more than anything by the idea that Putin is somehow destined to succeed in Ukraine. On the contrary, he is doomed to failure,” Johnson said in a video posted to the Daily Mail.
After Fox News dropped Carlson from its show last year, he started his own media company and launched a show on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mr Johnson, a Conservative Party member, agreed to Mr Carlson’s interview with President Putin, the first by a Western media member since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.
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Prime Minister Johnson accuses Carlson of acting like a ‘Putin supporter’
In an op-ed for the Daily Mail on Friday, Mr. Johnson attacked Mr. Carlson’s interview style, calling Mr. Carlson “cajoling and giggling” and “his jaw dropping when he got the scoop.” Criticized for showing a “relaxed sense of happiness.” He also claimed that Carlson had “betrayed” his global audience by not questioning Putin on the Ukraine issue.
“He didn’t ask the hard questions. Mr. Johnson didn’t ask President Putin why he was still using some of the most brutal methods in modern warfare to harm and kill innocent Ukrainian civilians.” wrote Johnson.
The former British prime minister claimed Mr Carlson acted like he was a supporter of Putin and agreed “to the bone” with his “mixture of half-chewed Wikipedia and complete falsehoods”.
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In a two-hour interview, Putin said he was willing to negotiate with the United States on the Ukraine conflict, but spoke more about history to justify his decision. “When Tucker Carlson went to the Kremlin, he was performing an event well known to history. He was to become a tyrant’s pawn, a dictator’s dictator, and a traitor to journalism.” he wrote.
He also accused Karlsson of not highlighting the accomplishments of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia began its invasion.
Johnson compared Carlson’s strategy to that of George Galloway, who praised Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. He implored Americans to ignore the interview and reminded Congress of the need to side with Ukraine.
“Please, remember who you are,” he called on members of Congress who are blocking the delivery of aid to Ukraine.