Who Adored Moscow More: Tucker Carlson or Slovakia’s Far-Right Leader?

While the primary focus of Fico’s visit to Moscow was business, the Slovak parliamentary delegation took the opportunity to soak in the city’s rich culture and architecture. They explored Moscow’s landmarks, attended theatrical performances, and browsed the aisles of Russian supermarkets — all in a bid to counter claims of widespread shortages in essential goods, which they described as “totally and completely” untrue.

Their enthusiastic impressions mirror those of another recent high-profile visitor to Russia: conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, whose controversial Moscow trip in February 2024 made waves.

The American television personality appeared to relish his meeting with Vladimir Putin so much that he returned to Moscow in December. | Pool photo by Gavriil Grigorov via AFP/Getty Images

Carlson seemed to enjoy his initial sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin so thoroughly that he made a second trip to Moscow in December. This time, he expanded his agenda to include an interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

It’s difficult to determine whether Carlson or Slovak politician Andrej Danko walked away more enamored with Russia, but their remarks certainly brimmed with enthusiasm. Can you guess which of the two made the following statements lauding Russia? (Answers at the end—no peeking!)

Quiz

1. “If someone wants to call [the] Russian nation evil, how could an evil nation have so many books? I wish you could see the bookstores, the huge department stores. How could an evil nation have such beautiful art, such skilled athletes?”

2. “We are in … a hot war with Russia, an undeclared war you did not vote for, but that is ongoing. And because the U.S. military is killing Russians in Russia right now, we are closer to nuclear war than in any time in history.”