Tucker Carlson's Allies Fume Over Putin Interview Sanctions Threat

Conservative commentators have reacted with fury after current and former European Parliament lawmakers suggested Tucker Carlson could face European Union (EU) sanctions over his upcoming interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Carlson confirmed speculation he was in Moscow to interview Putin in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday in which he said: "Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they're implicated in and we have the right to tell them about it."

Speaking to Newsweek Guy Verhofstadt and Urmas Paet, both members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the former Belgium prime minister and Estonian foreign minister, respectively, suggested Carlson could face EU sanctions over the interview. Verhofstadt labeled Carlson a "mouthpiece" for Putin, adding, in reference to the former Fox News host, "as Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well."

He made a similar argument on X, posting: "Tucker Carlson is surely on the path to being labelled a propagandist for the Russian regime. If he enables disinformation for Putin, the EU should explore a travel ban!"

Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate who has since endorsed Donald Trump, on Wednesday shared the Newsweek article titled "Exclusive: Tucker Carlson Could Face Sanctions Over Putin Interview" on X.

He added: "The European Union is considering sanctions against Tucker for interviewing Putin. But think about it - there's no way the EU would ever dare to do that to a prominent U.S. figure without implicit blessing from their counterparts in the U.S. government."

Andrew Tate, a prominent social media influencer who has been charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania, agreed, responding: "Yes. EU states get explicit permission from the USA before they wreck a prominent US citizen."

Tate also shared a post by Balázs Orbán, political director for conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in which he said, "don't bother trying – we won't let it happen!" in response to the sanctions call. The influencer added 'G,' a slag term for gangster that he uses as a term of approval.

X owner Elon Musk shared a post from Brian Krassenstein, who claimed: "The European Union is said to be seeking sanctions and a "travel ban" against Tucker Carlson for his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin." Musk added: "If true, this would be disturbing indeed. One may agree with Tucker or not, but he is a major American journalist and such an action would greatly offend the American public."

A community note was placed on Krassenstein's post by other X users noting that the EU itself is not seeking sanctions at this point, though some European Parliament members have suggested it could.

Former House Republican Ron Paul posted: "Showing their disdain for journalism and fear of losing control of the narrative, leading EU politicians are calling for a travel ban on journalist Tucker Carlson over an interview he will release with Russian president Putin. And the interview is not even out yet!"

Carlson has come under fire on social media for visiting Russia to interview Putin while American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, from The Wall Street Journal and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, are still imprisoned in the country.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022, on Putin's orders. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes, which he has denied.

Carlson's interview with Putin will be the first the Russian president has given to a Western journalist since the invasion. It will be broadcast to paying subscribers on Carlson's website, www.tuckercarlson.com, at 6 p.m. ET Thursday.