Putin Issues Ominous Warning to Trump: “You’re Not Safe”

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a chilling message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a press conference Thursday at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit. While offering praise for Trump’s political acumen, Putin warned that the former president’s return to power could be fraught with danger.

“Donald Trump is a clever, experienced man,” Putin said, according to the Associated Press. “But even now, he’s not safe.”

Putin’s remarks come in the wake of a turbulent year for Trump, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a Pennsylvania rally in July. The attack, which left the former president injured, was one of several incidents that highlighted escalating threats against him.

“What struck me the most is not just that he faced uncivilized means—including assassination attempts—but that he faced them more than once,” Putin remarked.

A Grim History of Violence

Putin’s warning is notable given his own alleged history of dealing with political adversaries through lethal means. In 2006, former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko accused Putin of ordering his assassination. Litvinenko died in London after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210.

More recently, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, perished in a mysterious plane crash in 2023 after leading a failed mutiny against the Kremlin. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a vocal critic of Putin, died under unclear circumstances earlier this year while serving a lengthy prison sentence.

“Revolting” Treatment of Trump Family

Putin also expressed outrage over the treatment of Trump and his family, though he refrained from naming specific individuals or incidents.

“I was shocked to see not just him, but his children subjected to humiliating and unfounded judicial procedures,” Putin said. “Even Russian bandits wouldn’t stoop so low.”

Trump’s legal troubles have mounted since he left office in 2021, with multiple indictments and ongoing investigations targeting both him and his family. Despite this, he has vowed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office—though he has yet to provide details on how he plans to achieve such a feat.

A “Serious Test” Ahead

Putin expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to navigate the challenges ahead, suggesting that the president-elect’s ordeal may have strengthened him.

“He has gone through a serious test and will return to the White House with valuable experience,” Putin said.

In contrast, Putin took a swipe at President Joe Biden, accusing him of creating “additional difficulties” for Trump’s incoming administration. The Russian leader criticized the Biden administration’s decision to supply Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, which have recently been used to strike targets inside Russian territory.

As the world watches Trump’s path back to the White House, Putin’s ominous warning casts a shadow over what may lie ahead. Whether Trump can overcome the threats and challenges facing him remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher.