'Played by Putin': Trump slammed after inviting Putin to ride with him in 'The Beast'
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin, to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
On Friday afternoon, August 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Anchorage, Alaska for his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin's arrival followed the news that Trump and Putin wouldn't be meeting one-one-one as originally planned, but rather, would participate in a three-on-three meeting that would also include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and two Russian officials.
Images of the Russian president walking with Trump on U.S. soil drew immediate reactions.
On X, formerly Twitter, The Calvin Coolidge Project posted a photo of Trump and Putin riding together, noting, "Just in: President Trump and Putin are riding in The Beast on their way to the summit."
READ MORE: This single sentence will fast-track Trump to a prison cell
Never Trump conservative and former GOP strategist Tim Miller, in response, posted, "Anytime you make Putin this happy you are f------ up."
Journalist Vince Lee noted how a smile on Putin's face in the vehicle with Trump, commenting, "Putin's mood."
X user John Wisniewski remarked, "Obviously Trump told him sanctions lifted."
Another X user, Alan Howard Zinn, wrote, "If he does get played by Putin, I'd like to be the headline writer for various newspapers."
READ MORE: 'Financial ruin': Trump's White House is terrified of losing this lawsuit
Reuters Pictures observed, "President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska."
On MSNBC, Michael McFaul, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russian under former President Barack Obama, reacted to the images of Trump with Putin in Alaska by warning that Putin is even more of an "autocrat" in 2025 than he was in the past.
"If all they do is this happy talk," McFaul told MSNBC host Katy Tur, nothing "concrete" will come from the meeting.
Never Trump conservative Tom Nichols, on MSNBC, commented that the meeting with Putin underscores Trump's "narcissistic personality" and the belief that "everyone is stupid but him."
READ MORE: 'Why aren't you here to apologize?' GOP rep in deep-red district loudly booed at town hall
