Tucker Carlson Launches Biggest Defense of Vladimir Putin Yet

Fox News host Tucker Carlson launched his biggest defense of Russian President Vladimir Putin yet on Tuesday night's edition of his show.

Carlson called on his viewers to question whether the Russian leader should be considered dangerous. This comes after President Joe Biden announced in a speech yesterday that Putin's military actions are "the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine."

Carlson shared a clip of this segment on his Twitter page, where it has already been viewed over 350,000 times.

Shorter clips of this segment have also begun popping up on social media, with the snippet being viewed over 2 million times in another tweet.

In the clip Carlson said Democrat politicians have been telling the American people they have a "patriotic duty" to hate Putin. He went on to question how many problems Americans had to blame on the Russian leader.

"Very soon that hatred of Vladimir Putin could bring the United States into a conflict in eastern Europe," Carlson said.

"Before that happens it might be worth asking ourselves, since this is getting pretty serious, what is this really about?

He continued: "Has Putin ever called me a racist? Has he threatened to get me fired for disagreeing with him? Has he shipped every middle-class job in my town to Russia? Did he manufacture a worldwide pandemic that wrecked my business and kept me indoors for two years?

"Is he teaching my children to embrace racial discrimination? Is he making fentanyl? Is he trying to snuff out Christianity? Does he eat dogs?

"These are fair questions and the answer to all of them is no, Vladimir Putin didn't do any of that. So why does Washington hate him so much?"

Carlson has repeatedly defended Vladimir Putin and Russia's military action as tensions rise in eastern Europe.

In a clip from his show that went viral in late January, he questioned "why is it disloyal to side with Russia but loyal to side with Ukraine". He went on to claim both countries don't care about the U.S.

Carlson has also accused President Biden of using a potential conflict in Europe as a distraction to avoid dealing with domestic issues.

On February 12, Carlson tweeted a snippet from his show where he discussed whether the U.S. should be supporting Ukraine.

"You have got to wonder if the Biden administration's current wild posturing, and it is wild, is worth the risk."

"If it is worth fighting Russia, tell us how it is worth it. Explain how joining a conflict in progress in eastern Europe would benefit the U.S.

"Not just benefit Joe Biden, who is obviously desperate for distraction from his domestic disasters, but how would war with Russia make us stronger and more prosperous?"

Carlson's latest comments have seen multiple individuals criticize him as the situation between Russia and NATO worsens.

Former 2020 Republican presidential candidate Joe Walsh accused Carlson of being dangerous.

"Tucker Carlson is really dangerous. Because right here on his show tonight he's telling his audience that Democrats and our own government are bad, and Putin is good," he tweeted.

"He is dangerous because millions of Americans are nodding in agreement with him tonight."

Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger also criticized Carlson for his latest comments.

"In 35 seconds here, Tucker Carlson basically said: 'Putin isn't your enemy. Your fellow American is. This is beyond dangerous, to say the least, he tweeted.

Opinion columnist for Occupy Democrats, David Weissman, also tweeted the video and called for Carlson to be fired.

"What will [it] take for Tucker Carlson to get fired for spreading Russian propaganda?"

Despite the criticism he has faced for his comments over recent weeks, Carlson has said he is unbothered by allegations that he is a "pawn" of Vladimir Putin, according to an Axios report.

"I just want to go on the record and say I could care less if they call me a pawn of Putin," Carlson told them.

"It's too stupid. I don't speak Russian. I've never been to Russia. I'm not that interested in Russia.

"All I care about is the fortunes of the United States because I have four children who live here."

Newsweek has contacted Fox News for comment.