Republican joins lawmakers calling for removal of 'traitor' Trump envoy

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in Moscow, Russia August 6, 2025. Sputnik Gavriil Grigorov Pool via REUTERS

The Guardian reports a handful of U.S. lawmakers, including Republicans, have reacted furiously to a leaked recording in which Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, coached Moscow on how to handle Trump.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called for the immediate dismissal of Witkoff.

“For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,” said Bacon, a retired military officer, on X. “He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.”

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) wrote on X that the leak represented “a major problem” that was “one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop.”

“Allow Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do his job in a fair and objective manner,” Fitzpatrick said.

In a recording obtained by Bloomberg of an October phone call between Witkoff and Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, Witkoff appeared to agree that convincing Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine would require Moscow gaining control of Donetsk and additional Ukrainian territory. He also appeared to coach Ushakov that flattery at the beginning of the conversation with Trump would grease the wheels to getting the president’s blessing. During the conversation, Ushakov promised Putin would congratulate Trump and call him “a real peace man.”

The Guardian reports Ushakov appeared to confirm the call’s authenticity to Russian state television, suggesting the leak was meant to “hinder” negotiations.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) called Witkoff an “actual traitor” on X, and added that “Steve Witkoff is supposed to work for the United States, not Russia.”

Trump defended Witkoff Tuesday night, arguing: “That’s what a dealmaker does.”

“You’ve got to say ‘look, they want this, you’ve got to convince them of this,’” Trump said while onboard Air Force One. “That’s a very standard form of negotiation.”

The Guardian reports Trump’s special missions envoy, Richard Grenell called for the leaker to be fired, not Witkoff.

“Find the leaker and fire them immediately. No excuses. The anonymous leaker is a national security risk,” Grenell wrote in a social media post.

Read the Guardian report at this link.

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