Vladimir Putin didn’t have to work hard to win over Donald Trump. The Kremlin did it for him.
On Friday, Russia’s state-run propaganda outlet RT released backstage footage from the high-stakes Alaska summit, showing President Trump leaning in with grins, hand clasps, and back-patting warmth toward the Russian strongman.
The video, apparently filmed moments after their joint remarks in Anchorage, captures Trump lavishing Putin with a two-handed shake — the kind reserved for close friends, not adversaries accused of war crimes. Standing nearby was only Putin’s translator, making the moment all the more jarring.
🇷🇺🤝🇺🇸 Putin and Trump share a laugh after their JOINT press conference
— RT (@RT_com) August 15, 2025
HANDSHAKE and light chatter follow
Their HISTORICAL meeting is OFFICIALLY over https://t.co/eXtI2yDur0 pic.twitter.com/l7YEW8QbFF
Trump’s “Buddy Routine” on Full Display
In the footage, Trump initiates the handshake, then covers it with his other hand — a gesture that reads more like admiration than diplomacy. He even extends a handshake to the translator before the video abruptly cuts.
Putin, who has spent years bending world leaders to his will, couldn’t have scripted it better. Kremlin media rushed the clip online, while the White House offered nothing but silence.
“This is exactly the kind of optics Putin thrives on,” said Fiona Hill, a former White House Russia adviser. “He wants to show that Trump is deferential, even eager, to please him.”
No Deal, But Plenty of Smiles
The warmth came after a three-hour meeting that produced no tangible deal on Ukraine. Trump and Putin refused to answer questions from reporters. Instead, Trump later ran to Fox News to boast to Sean Hannity about “alone time” with Putin.
“He made a very good speech, and I also finished it up and afterwards we spoke right after that,” Trump told Hannity. “We spoke very sincerely. I think he wants to see it done.”
Critics pounced on the phrasing. “That’s not how you talk about confronting an authoritarian with blood on his hands,” blasted Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). “That’s how you talk about a golf buddy.”
Russia Driving the Narrative
Remarkably, it was the Kremlin — not the White House — that provided nearly every detail about the summit. From announcing the joint press conference to posting cozy backstage video, Moscow has controlled the messaging.
“Once again, Trump is letting Putin set the stage,” said political scientist Nina Khrushcheva. “It’s theater, and Putin knows he’s the director. Trump is just the actor eager for applause.”
The Red Carpet Treatment
Earlier in the day, Trump even invited Putin into the Beast, the armored presidential limo, to ride together from the Anchorage tarmac where they were greeted with a red carpet. Kremlin outlets seized on the imagery of Trump rolling out literal and figurative red carpets for Moscow’s leader.
A Dangerous Embrace
To many, the imagery raises haunting memories of Trump’s 2018 Helsinki summit, where he sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence agencies on Russian election interference.
“Americans should be alarmed,” warned Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “This is a war criminal. He invaded Ukraine, murdered civilians, jailed opponents. And our president is fawning over him like a celebrity fanboy.”
Putin’s smile in the clip says it all. He knows the world is watching — and he knows Trump is playing right into his hands.
Do you want me to push this rewrite even further into scandal-exposé mode (with more historical reminders of Trump’s past pro-Putin moments and sharper Democrat framing), or keep it balanced but sensational like this version?
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You peop
Most people focus on Putin’s strange legs twitching in that first video…
Here we go! Claiming no progress. Everyone knows it will take 3 players to resolve Ukraine. But first Trump had to take Putin’s temperature. That’s how negotiations work. Putin has to feel important has to trust Trump Russia fears the west especially with the continued expansion of NATO which the west promised not to do!! Next up is to take what Teumpnlearned and speak privately with zelinsky. What no one realize is Russia is nothing to the US since the USSR collapsed they have an economy 30% smaller than Italy. So Trump needs to be friendly and warm Putin’s trust or he’ll be rigid.
Look what Zelenaky just announced
“ On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war. I am grateful for the invitation,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.”
That’s shuttle diplomacy exactly what Nixon and Kissinger used to do!!