CNBC Trump ally blasts president for 'cozying up to' Putin

Frequent President Donald Trump defender Joe Kernen has a bone to pick with him. The CNBC news anchor does not agree with Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kernen, who hosts Squawk Box, has a history of showing Trump empathy, but recently expressed frustration over Trump’s ongoing response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Kernen took things a step further when he referenced Gerard Baker, the conservative former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal, regarding whether America can trust Trump as a leader. Kernen told his guest that Baker’s recent column, which argued that America’s actions were becoming increasingly difficult to defend, had left him feeling deeply depressed.

“Jerry Baker, who’s no left-winger, says, ‘The U.S. isn’t perfect, but it’s always been hard to doubt its good intentions, but that has changed,’” Kernen said to Council on Foreign Relations president Michael Froman. Kernen added, “cozying up to dictators like Putin and Xi when we know full well what their end game is, it’s hard to understand. And I need something to be explained on how that makes sense in this case.”

Trump has been the subject of backlash for easing pressure on Moscow while simultaneously chastising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he has demanded should stand down. Trump has agreed to allow Russian diesel to reach global markets and has eased sanctions on Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia launched attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities just hours after Trump claimed he had secured a ceasefire.

Kernan’s comments come on the heels of Zelensky’s remarks about feeling betrayed by Trump after Ukrainian officials reported that the U.S. had restricted or slowed access to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet network, hampering Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming Russian drones and missiles. "It's a pity that we are losing, we are losing a strong partner," Zelensky said, as reported by Yahoo.

Trump denies interfering with Starshield and also vouches for Elon Musk, who developed the system. "I don't know if it was anybody because it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon. And from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been," he said on October 16 while speaking with the media.

Trump says Zelensky is harder to negotiate with than Putin, which he says complicates things. While Trump’s relationship with Putin has come under fire, his administration says Trump’s personal relationship with Putin gives him a negotiating advantage, specifically when it comes to ending the war and adjusting American fuel prices.

Kernan is not convinced. “Is it possible that that works for the country writ large? Maybe it does. I don’t know,” Kernan said. “Do we have to trust him?”