There is “no evidence” to support claims that the Biden administration attempted to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin itself moved to shut down the sensational allegation made by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressing the matter directly in a press briefing on Wednesday.
The controversy stems from the latest episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, in which the conservative pundit interviewed freelance journalist Matt Taibbi. During the discussion, Carlson asserted—without presenting any evidence—that the White House had tried to eliminate Putin, calling the alleged plot “insane” and “demented.”
The Kremlin wasted no time in rejecting the claim. “We don’t really know what Carlson meant when he said that,” Peskov said, dismissing the assassination theory as baseless. “The times are such that without evidence, no matter who it comes from, it’s best not to take one’s word for it,” he added.
Carlson has traveled to Moscow twice in the past year, first for an interview with Putin and later to speak with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. His visits, coupled with his openly critical stance on U.S. military aid to Kyiv, have drawn backlash in the U.S., where he is frequently accused of echoing Kremlin narratives. In response, Carlson has defended his approach, arguing that Americans are “not adequately informed” about the war in Ukraine and insisting on the importance of presenting all perspectives.
Since being ousted from Fox News in 2023, Carlson has operated independently. The exact reasons behind his departure remain undisclosed, but speculation abounds. Some believe his firing was linked to accusations of misogyny from former colleagues, while others suggest that his ultra-Christian and white nationalist rhetoric may have alienated Rupert Murdoch—who has since been succeeded by his son Lachlan.
