Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Thursday parroted Russian propaganda linking Hunter Biden to Ukrainian biolabs that was disseminated by the Kremlin to justify its invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier on Thursday, Russias Defense Ministry released a colorful diagram that claims to prove that President Joe Biden s son was involved in funding a secret U.S. bioweapons plot in Ukraine.
Several commentators predicted the claim would end up on Fox News, where Hunter Biden theories are ever-popular. Julia Davis, a columnist for The Daily Beast who monitors Russian media, suggested it was crafted with hopes of getting a Fox News feature.
If you thought Russian propaganda was ever sophisticated, I hate to break it to you: it was always quite stupid. Still is. Here is their latest gem: Hunter Biden funded bio-labs in Ukraine. Handcrafted for Fox News. pic.twitter.com/rZBnGj8W81
Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 24, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Julia Davis","author_url":"https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews","cache_age":86400,"description":"If you thought Russian propaganda was ever sophisticated, I hate to break it to you: it was always quite stupid. Still is. Here is their latest gem: Hunter Biden funded bio-labs in Ukraine. Handcrafted for Fox News. pic.twitter.com/rZBnGj8W81 Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 24, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1037,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FOniGxGX0AYLXVx.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1215,"title":"Julia Davis on 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carlson","slug":"tucker-carlson","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/tucker-carlson","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/tucker-carlson","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/tucker-carlson"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Tucker Carlson","slug":"tucker-carlson","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/tucker-carlson"},{"name":"Hunter Biden","slug":"hunter-biden","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/hunter-biden","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">If you thought Russian propaganda was ever sophisticated, I hate to break it to you: it was always quite stupid. Still is. Here is their latest gem: Hunter Biden funded bio-labs in Ukraine. Handcrafted for Fox News. pic.twitter.com/rZBnGj8W81
Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) March 24, 2022
Hours later, it got its shoutout.
Citing a report in the right-wing website National Pulse, Carlson said, Apparently a private equity firm run by Hunter Biden funded some of the research into pathogens in these biolabs.
What are the outlines of that story? Were not sure, he continued. We know its legitimate to ask what it means, why wouldnt it be? Youre not a Russian agent repeating discredited Putin talking points if you ask. Youre a good citizen.
Tucker Carlson cites reporting by The National Pulse saying that a private equity firm run by Hunter Biden funded some of the research in Ukrainian biolabs. pic.twitter.com/gvYiPqSUyl
The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 25, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"The Post Millennial","author_url":"https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial","cache_age":86400,"description":"Tucker Carlson cites reporting by The National Pulse saying that a private equity firm run by Hunter Biden funded some of the research in Ukrainian biolabs. pic.twitter.com/gvYiPqSUyl The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 25, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1008,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/1507160098799505410/img/GzBr4bC7ubmGCIVs.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1806,"title":"The Post Millennial on 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carlson","slug":"tucker-carlson","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/tucker-carlson","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/tucker-carlson","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/tucker-carlson"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Tucker Carlson","slug":"tucker-carlson","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/tucker-carlson"},{"name":"Hunter Biden","slug":"hunter-biden","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/hunter-biden","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/hunter-biden"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">Tucker Carlson cites reporting by The National Pulse saying that a private equity firm run by Hunter Biden funded some of the research in Ukrainian biolabs. pic.twitter.com/gvYiPqSUyl
The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 25, 2022
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Russias baseless claims about American biological warfare labs in Ukraine have taken root in U.S. right-wing networks in recent weeks. Despite repeated debunking from U.S. officials, Carlson has devoted considerable airtime to promoting the conspiracy theory, appearing to side with the Kremlin over the U.S. government.
The Fox News host has repeatedly pushed pro-Russia and anti-Ukraine talking points as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his war on the neighboring nation.
Multiple excerpts from Carlsons show have been translated to serve as propaganda on Russian state-sponsored TV. Earlier this month, Mother Jones detailed a leaked memo in which the Kremlin asked state-controlled media to highlight Carlson as much as possible due to his criticism of the U.S. and its NATO allies and defense of Russia.
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