In a recent social media post, former U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger expressed his displeasure with Tucker Carlson's visit to Russia. Carlson, who previously hosted the popular Fox News show Tucker Carlson Tonight, has faced criticism for his alleged promotion of conspiracy theories and white supremacist rhetoric. Last April, Carlson was fired by the network, with speculation suggesting that his involvement in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit and controversial texts played a role in his departure.

Reports emerged last Thursday that Carlson had been spotted in various locations in Moscow, including a visit to the prestigious Bolshoi Theater. Though Carlson has remained silent about the purpose of his visit, speculation has mounted that he may be in the country to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin for his current series, which he shares on the social media platform X.

Carlson has previously expressed admiration for Putin and Russia, leading some critics to accuse him of echoing Russian government propaganda, particularly during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Given this backdrop, Kinzinger took to social media to label Carlson a "traitor" and posed a poll question to his followers, asking if Carlson is "on Putin's payroll."

As of Sunday morning, over 16,000 respondents participated in the poll, with 62.4 percent answering "yes." Kinzinger's strong statement against Carlson drew attention, reflecting their divergent views on foreign relations and concerns regarding potential ties between Carlson and Putin.

Newsweek reached out to the Tucker Carlson Network for comment on this matter. However, the network has yet to respond. It is noteworthy that Kinzinger, who served as a Republican representative for Illinois from 2011 to 2023, has emerged as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his "Make America Great Again" movement. Alongside Liz Cheney, Kinzinger was one of only two Republicans on the House select committee that investigated the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021 and referred Trump and others to the Department of Justice for potential criminal charges.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, shared different sentiments from Kinzinger, expressing support for Carlson's visit and emphasizing the importance of a free press. Responding to Greene's comments, the Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, stated last year that it remained to be seen whether Putin would speak with Carlson.

Carlson himself mentioned in late September 2023 that he had attempted to interview Putin but claimed that the U.S. government had blocked his efforts. "I tried to interview Vladimir Putin, and the U.S. government stopped me," Carlson revealed in an interview with Swiss magazine Die Weltwoche.

The purpose of Carlson's recent visit to Russia and the outcome of any potential interview with Putin remain unknown, leaving observers curious about the motives behind his trip and the implications it may have on his future endeavors.