Putin Trolls Tucker Carlson Over CIA Rejection

Vladimir Putin joked about Tucker Carlson being rejected by the CIA after he finished college during his interview with the conservative polemist—his first with a western journalist since ordering the full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The interview was released on Carlson's website and X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday and covered Russian history, the war in Ukraine, NATO, imprisoned American journalist Evan Gershkovich and his relationships with Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

During the conversation Putin discussed the 2014 Ukrainian Maidan revolution, which led to the ousting of then pro-Moscow Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, which he claimed took place "with the backing of the CIA of course."

Addressing Carlson, Russia's president added: "The organization you wanted to join back in the day as I understand. We should thank God they didn't let you in. Although it is a serious organization I understand."

According to a 2017 profile of Carlson by The New Yorker, he tried to join the CIA after leaving Trinity College in Connecticut but was turned down as "the real-life agency, unlike its fictional counterparts, prefers not to hire young men who are gabby and insubordinate."

Newsweek reached out to Tucker Carlson's representatives and the Russian Foreign Ministry by email outside of usual U.S. business hours on Friday. This article will be updated if either wish to comment.

Putin also chastised Carlson over his claim that the Russian president launched the February 22, 2022 invasion of Ukraine believing "the United States, through NATO, might initiate a quick surprise attack" on Russia.

Asked "why did you believe the United States might strike Russia out of the blue?" Putin replied: "It's not that America, the United States, was going to launch a surprise strike on Russia, I didn't say that. Are we having a talk show or a serious conversation?"

This caused Carlson to laugh loudly, and he looked about to quote Putin back to him before the Russian leader interrupted him with an offer to give him "a little historical background." Putin went on to speak extensively about Russian history, going back to the "establishment of the Russian state in 862," and arguing that Ukraine was more an invention of Russia's enemies than a legitimate country in its own right.

Putin later said he was ready to hold discussions on the future of Ukraine, which he invaded in February 2022 before illegally annexing four of its provinces into the Russian Federation the following September.

He commented: "We have never refused negotiations. You should tell the current Ukrainian leadership to stop [fighting] and come to a negotiating table."

Carlson asked Putin to release Gershkovich as a "sign of your decency" to which Putin said he thought a deal could be found "if our partners take reciprocal steps."

He added: "The special services are in contact with one another. They are talking... I believe an agreement can be reached."

However Putin suggested a prisoner deal would be needed to free Gershkovich referencing "a person, due to patriotic sentiments, [who] eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals" in a likely reference to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin imprisoned after murdering Georgian military officer Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin in 2019.

Carlson's interview with Putin sparked intense controversy before it was even broadcast, with two prominent members of the European Parliament telling Newsweek the European Union could impose sanctions on the American commentator in response.

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