Tucker Carlson Denies Russian TV Affiliation Accusations: 'I'm An American'

Tucker Carlson has finally responded to allegations of a Russian TV affiliation, providing his perspective on the matter.

What Happened: Amid growing online ads and speculations linking his name to a Russian state TV show called “Tucker,” the former Fox News host has categorically denied any involvement with the program, reported Business Insider. 

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A BBC media monitoring expert, Francis Scarr, first brought this to public attention when he posted an advertisement for the show on Rossiya 24, Russia’s state-owned news channel.

The ad featured segments of Carlson repeatedly saying “Russia” with the caption, “The high-profile American presenter is moving to another level. Here,” according to Scarr’s translation. 

Subsequently, Scarr shared an updated logo for the supposed Russian show on X, formerly Twitter, indicating that it might be imminent.

When questioned about his connection to the Russian TV show, Carlson said, “It’s absurd. Come on. Did you actually believe that?” 

He further stated, “I’d never ever heard of the TV channel before some reporter texted me about it this morning,” the report noted.  

Addressing whether he would ever consider partnering with Russian state TV, Carlson’s response was unequivocal: “Of course not. I’m an American.”

Why It’s Important: Carlson has been actively working to regain his audience on X following the cancellation of his highly-rated show on Fox News in April this year — a decision that came in the wake of a damaging defamation lawsuit related to unsubstantiated election fraud claims.

Last month, former U.S. President Donald Trump bypassed a Republican primary debate on Fox News in favor of a 46-minute interview with Carlson on Elon Musk‘s X. 

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