Alexander Vindman claims Tucker Carlson contributed to Putin’s aggression toward Ukraine

On All In With Chris Hayes Wednesday, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who served as Director of European Affairs for the National Security Council under former President Trump, placed some of the blame on his former boss for Russia’s recent increased aggression towards Ukraine, with an invasion now appearing imminent.

“It’s mainly because of a sense of opportunity, a sense of weakness within the United States. I have every reason to believe that if we had not had [an] insurrection on January 6th, because President Trump, President Putin would not believe that there's an opportunity, there’s a vulnerability in the United States. The hyper-polarization that Trump continues to nourish in the United States helps.”

Vindman also pointed a finger at Fox News opinion host, Tucker Carlson, who defended Russia on his show on Tuesday. Carlson also recently praised Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Obán.

“He (Putin) has major talking heads on Fox News, like Tucker Carlson, pandering to his interests, pandering to — drawing false equivalencies between the U.S. and Russia,” Vindman said. “Really kind of fanboying over authoritarianism.”

Video Transcript

ALEXANDER VINDMAN: I have every reason to believe that if we had not had an insurrection on January 6, President Trump would not believe-- because of President Trump, President Putin would not believe that there was an opportunity, there's a vulnerability within the United States.

KYLIE MAR: Former member of President Trump's National Security Council and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman appeared on "All In With Chris Hayes" Wednesday, where he spoke about Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine, which now appears imminent. Vindman said that Russian President Vladimir Putin feels emboldened due to Trump nourishing hyperpolarization in the US. He also blamed Fox News' most popular opinion host.

ALEXANDER VINDMAN: He has major talking heads on Fox News, like Tucker Carlson, pandering to his interests, pandering to drawn false equivalencies between the US and Russia, really kind of fan-boying over authoritarianism.

KYLIE MAR: Just one night earlier, Carlson defended Putin's aggression toward Ukraine, saying, "Imagine if Mexico fell under the direct military control of China. We would see that as a threat. There would be no reason for that. That's how Russia views NATO control of Ukraine. And why wouldn't they?" But Vindman says Carlson's reasoning for the aggression couldn't be further from the truth.

ALEXANDER VINDMAN: Back in 2014, when this confrontation started, when Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine, it did so because it saw a country choosing its own destiny, asserting its sovereignty, choosing a path towards European integration towards democracy.