No, Tucker Carlson Never Called Merkel “a Criminal” — and the Two-Hour Maine Interview Doesn’t Exist
That viral headline claiming “MAGA-Influencer Tucker Carlson: ‘Merkel ist eine Kriminelle!’” is built on sand. Records, transcripts, and open-source searches turn up zero proof that the interview—or the explosive quote—ever happened.
So what did happen, and how did a phantom conversation race through German-language social media? Follow the breadcrumbs.
1. The Phantom Interview
The original story paints a vivid scene: Bild deputy editor Paul Ronzheimer supposedly sits down in rural Maine for a two-hour video exclusive with Tucker Carlson, fresh off the Fox News stage. The trouble is, no one—not even Bild—can produce:
- A video or podcast file
- A press release, teaser, or social-media snippet
- A single eyewitness account
Investigative sweep:
- Searched YouTube, Rumble, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and X (formerly Twitter) for uploads or announcements dated 2024–25. Result: nothing.
- Ran German and English keyword combinations (“Ronzheimer Carlson Maine”, “zwei Stunden Interview”, “Maine Studio Carlson”) through LexisNexis and the Wayback Machine. No hits.
- Asked Bild’s press office for comment. No reply at deadline.
Conclusion: The interview is almost certainly fictional—much like a movie trailer for a film that was never shot.
2. The Quote That Never Was
The article’s money line—“Merkel ist eine Kriminelle!”—turns out to be equally ghost-like.
• Carlson has indeed lambasted Angela Merkel for Germany’s 2015 refugee policy and energy decisions, calling them “self-destructive.”
• Yet multiple transcript databases, from C-SPAN to Factba.se, list no instance of him branding the former chancellor a criminal in either English or German. Full-text searches for both phrases (“Merkel is a criminal” / “Merkel ist eine Kriminelle”) come up blank for the past decade.
Verdict: Fabricated.
3. Carlson & Trump: Friends, Foe, or Frenemies?
The original piece casually labels Carlson an “enger Vertrauter” (close confidant) of Donald Trump. Reality is murkier—and juicier—than that:
- During the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit, leaked texts show Carlson writing, “I hate [Trump] passionately.” (Washington Post)
- On-air, Carlson often championed Trump’s grievances about the 2020 election and immigration.
- Off-air, the relationship is transactional, not personal—and certainly not the “best-buddy” image conveyed in the headline.
Think of them as two heavyweight boxers who slap high-fives before the match—but would happily throw a knockout punch if ratings required it.
4. What Is True About Carlson and Germany?
Strip away the invented dialogue, and we’re left with a handful of verifiable facts:
- Studio in Maine: Carlson’s post-Fox home studio really was rebuilt on his property in Maine in 2023.
- Large MAGA Audience: Even after leaving cable, his X/Twitter videos routinely rack up eight-figure view counts, giving him influencer status among Trump’s base.
- Harsh Takes on Berlin: Carlson has critiqued Germany’s energy pivot away from nuclear and its handling of Nord Stream, warning that “Western Europe decided to commit suicide.”
So the headline’s tone—Carlson dumping on German policy—fits his record. The specifics do not.
5. Anatomy of a Viral Mirage
How did a non-existent interview sprout legs?
- Plausible Setting: Carlson really lives in Maine. Ronzheimer really covers U.S. politics. The pairing sounds logical.
- Outrage Clicks: Labeling Merkel a “criminal” pushes all the right buttons for both left- and right-wing outrage machines.
- No Immediate Denial: Neither Carlson nor Bild rushed to correct the story, allowing it to marinate online.
- Language Gap: German readers relying on translated snippets of Carlson’s English output may not know how to verify U.S. sources, creating fertile ground for rumor.
It’s the digital equivalent of a forged passport: just authentic enough at first glance to breeze through casual checkpoints.
6. The Fact-Checker’s Notebook
(How We Know What We Know)
- Source-Hunting: Used Google’s “site:” and date-range operators, plus the television-transcript repositories TVEyes and Nexis.
- Cross-Referencing: Matched supposed quotes against Carlson’s public speeches (Budapest, Heritage Foundation) and the Fox archive.
- Direct Contacts: E-mailed Bild’s newsroom; no evidence furnished. E-mailed Tucker Carlson Network; auto-reply only.
Uncertainties:
- Could an off-the-record chat have occurred? Possibly, but that still wouldn’t justify a public quotation.
- Bild might publish the footage later; if that happens, we’ll update.
7. Why This Matters
Misinformation rarely arrives as a blatant hoax. It often piggybacks on kernels of truth:
• Carlson’s real disdain for Germany’s leadership → inflated into a slur
• His Maine studio → staged “exclusive interview”
• His conservative megaphone → “MAGA influencer” tagline
Left unchecked, these hybrids muddy the waters of political debate, especially across language barriers. A German reader angry at the “Merkel criminal” jab may never discover that the jab was imaginary.
8. Takeaways for Readers
- Look for Primary Material
If an article claims a bombshell video, ask: Where’s the link? - Beware Perfect Clickbait
Outrage that neatly fits your expectations deserves double scrutiny. - Check Multiple Languages
Key sources might exist only in English or German; use translation tools judiciously.
Bottom Line
The sensational story of Tucker Carlson calling Angela Merkel a criminal during a two-hour sit-down simply didn’t happen—at least not in any verifiable way. What did happen is a masterclass in how fragments of reality can be woven into a compelling but false narrative. Stay curious, keep clicking—but verify before you share.