Once upon a time, Donald Trump was dreaming of becoming Vladimir Putin’s “new best friend” at the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. Fast-forward twelve years and seven awkward leader meetups later, the bromance has officially gone the way of a reality TV feud — public, messy, and full of “I never said that” moments.
Trump is now flying 4,000 miles to Anchorage, Alaska, for a summit with Putin that he swears could end the Ukraine war. His plan? To “feel out” Putin — a phrase that somehow manages to be both politically vague and personally uncomfortable.
“If it’s bad, it’ll end quickly. If it’s good, we’re going to end up getting peace,” Trump told reporters — the diplomatic equivalent of “it’s either Netflix and chill or we’re breaking up.”
The Relationship Timeline (a.k.a. Political Gaslighting 101)
- 2013: Trump brags about his “relationship” with Putin.
- 2015–2016: He says they’re “stablemates” on 60 Minutes, then swears he’s never met him.
- 2016 campaign: He literally asks Russia on live TV to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails, then insists, “I don’t know who Putin is.”
- 2018 Helsinki Summit: Trump stands next to Putin and takes his word over U.S. intelligence, declaring, “I don’t see any reason why it would be” Russia behind the hacking.
- 2019: Calls their bond “very, very good” while fending off the Mueller probe and an impeachment over his Ukraine call.
2025: The Breakup Tour
This summer, Trump has threatened Russia’s economy, hinted at sanctions, and delivered tough talk on Putin — the political version of subtweeting your ex. Now they’re meeting in Alaska without inviting Europe or even Ukraine’s president. Because apparently, peace talks work better when you leave out the country that’s actually at war.
Trump swears there will be no forced land giveaways for Ukraine… but also says “territorial concessions” are necessary. In other words: No, honey, I’d never make you move — I’m just selling your house while you’re at work.
The Trump–Putin love story has gone from red-carpet flirtations to awkward public therapy sessions. And just like every toxic relationship, both sides claim they’re ready to walk away… but somehow, they keep showing up for one more meeting.
When the two finally sit down in Anchorage, expect smiles for the cameras — and knives under the table.
