Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton harshly criticized right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson following his recent decision to interview Russian president Vladimir Putin.
What Happened: Clinton, in an interview with MSNBC on Thursday, referred to Carlson as a “useful idiot.”
Carlson, who was once a critic of Putin, defended his decision to interview the Russian leader by claiming that no Western journalist had made the effort. However, this assertion was disputed by the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, who stated that they had received numerous requests from major Western media outlets.
"If you actually read translations of what's been said in Russian media, they make fun of him. I mean, he's like a puppy dog," Clinton said.
"After having been fired from so many outlets in the United States, I would not be surprised if he emerges with a contract from a Russian outlet because he is a useful idiot."
Clinton suggested that Carlson’s interview with Putin could be a result of his echoing of Putin’s false narratives about Ukraine, further stating, "He says things that are not true. He parrots Vladimir Putin's pack of lies about Ukraine, so I don't see why Putin wouldn't give him an interview."
The Putin-Carlson interview, conducted Tuesday, is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday.
Why It Matters: Carlson’s interview with Putin has sparked widespread debate and criticism. Carlson, a prominent conservative commentator, on Tuesday, had previously urged Americans to listen to the interview and decide for themselves.
He emphasized that he was not encouraging agreement with Putin’s statements. “But we are urging you to watch it. You should know as much as you can. And then, like a free citizen and not a slave, you can decide for yourself.”
Carlson has also previously made attempts to interview Putin. In a conversation with the Swiss publication Die Weltwoche in September, Carlson revealed that he had intended to interview Putin but said the U.S. government thwarted his effort.
Meanwhile, Russia has been pushing Ukraine to cede ground to engage in peace talks. However, Ukraine's reluctance to engage in peace talks with the Russian President has gained support from Western allies.
Amid these developments, the U.S. Senate has proposed a bipartisan aid package of $118.2 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. border security, in line with President Joe Biden‘s original $105 billion aid package proposed in October.
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