Tucker Carlson, a prominent figure in conservative media, found himself at the center of controversy when he was unexpectedly fired by Fox News in 2023. Despite this setback, Carlson quickly reemerged in the political arena, launching new ventures to continue his commentary on current affairs. Notably, he started a show on Twitter (now X) and established his own streaming service, the Tucker Carlson Network. Carlson’s determination to stay relevant in the media landscape led him to make headlines with his controversial interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2023.
During the interview, conducted in Moscow, Carlson aimed to provide what he believed was a more comprehensive understanding of the war in Ukraine, criticizing Western media for allegedly presenting a biased narrative. However, the interview took an unexpected turn when Putin revealed that Carlson had once aspired to join the CIA, a revelation that seemingly caught Carlson off guard.
This disclosure shed light on a lesser-known aspect of Carlson’s past aspirations. Despite his prominent career in media, Carlson had initially harbored ambitions of joining the CIA. This revelation was not entirely new, as it had been reported in a profile of Carlson dating back to 2017. The profile detailed Carlson’s academic struggles and his unsuccessful application to the CIA, citing reasons such as being too “gabby and insubordinate,” according to sources.
Although Carlson’s early ambitions were thwarted, he eventually found success in journalism, landing positions at publications like the Weekly Standard before transitioning to television. Despite his career trajectory diverging from his initial aspirations, Carlson’s influence in conservative media remained substantial, solidifying his position as a prominent commentator on political and social issues.
