President Doubles Down on Putin Peace Claim Amid Ukraine Missile Attacks. In a tense Oval Office interview aired Tuesday evening, Trump sparked fresh controversy after claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants peace,” even as missiles continue to fall on Ukraine.
The wide-ranging exchange with ABC News’ Terry Moran quickly escalated, with the president lashing out at both the media and his interviewer. The conversation turned contentious when Moran pressed Trump on Putin’s intentions in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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Trump attempted to portray Putin as open to ending hostilities, stating, “Because of me, he’s not going to do that,” referring to Putin’s alleged desire to take over all of Ukraine. Moran cut in sharply: “You think he wants peace? You think Vladimir Putin wants peace?”
Trump stood firm: “Still?” Moran followed up again: “Even with the raining missiles on [Ukraine]?”
Despite the reality of continued violence in the region, Trump maintained his position, insisting that the Russian president’s ultimate goal was total control of Ukraine, but that Trump’s influence had prevented it. “Because of me, he’s not going to do that,” Trump repeated.
The exchange reached a boiling point when Moran asked whether Trump trusted Putin. Rather than give a direct answer, Trump pivoted to attacking the interviewer.
“I don’t trust you,” Trump snapped. “I don’t trust a lot of people. I don’t trust you. Look at you, you’re coming in all shooting for bear. You’re so happy to do the interview, and then you start hitting me with fake questions. You start telling me that a guy whose hand is covered with a tattoo doesn’t have a tattoo. You’re being dishonest.”
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As Moran pushed back, stating plainly, “No, I’m not,” Trump continued his tirade. Despite claiming distrust of many people, the president notably left Putin off that list.
“I think that — let’s say he respects me. And I believe because of me he’s not going to take over the whole — but his decision, his choice, would be to take over all of Ukraine,” Trump asserted.
The interview has already drawn backlash online and from political analysts, who criticized Trump’s defense of Putin and his hostility toward legitimate journalistic inquiry. As the war in Ukraine enters another year, Trump’s remarks are expected to fuel further debate over his foreign policy posture and approach to authoritarian leaders.
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