Putin's Puppet

Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised persistent concerns among critics, who argue that many of Trump’s actions appear to align with the interests of the Russian government. After a series of bankruptcies in the 1990s and 2000s, Trump reportedly turned to Russian banks and financiers to sustain his business empire, fostering financial ties that some believe compromised his independence. These concerns intensified following Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed aimed to boost Trump’s candidacy. Symbolic displays of this alignment emerged internationally, including pro-Trump and pro-Putin posters displayed in Montenegro. Even after leaving office, Trump continued to engage with Putin privately, raising questions about his loyalties. His administration sent COVID-19 testing supplies to Russia at a time when American states were struggling to meet testing demands. More recently, Trump has echoed Russian propaganda by falsely claiming that Ukraine, not Russia, started the ongoing war—further deepening alarm over his apparent alignment with Moscow's narrative.

Yuri Bezmenov's Warning of how the Soviets Will Subvert the United States,

Long-Term Soviet Strategy to Subvert the United States

In a 1984 interview, former KGB agent Yuri Bezmenov, who defected to Canada in 1970, warned of a long-term Soviet strategy to ideologically subvert the United States—not through traditional espionage, but through psychological warfare. Bezmenov explained that 85% of the KGB's efforts were focused on what he called "ideological subversion" or "active measures," a slow and open process aimed at altering Americans’ perception of reality so thoroughly that they would no longer be able to think critically or defend their nation effectively.

Demoralization, Destabilization, Crisis, Normalization

He outlined a four-stage plan. The first stage, demoralization, takes 15 to 20 years and involves undermining a generation’s beliefs and values, often through the education system and cultural influences. By the 1980s, Bezmenov believed this stage had already been completed in the U.S. The second stage, destabilization, lasts two to five years and targets a country’s essential structures—its economy, foreign relations, and defense—weakening the nation’s foundation. The third stage is crisis, which can unfold in just a few weeks and involves a sudden collapse or upheaval, potentially leading to a violent shift in power or structure. The final stage, normalization, sets in after the crisis, where a new ideological regime takes hold and the altered reality becomes accepted as the new norm.

Bezmenov stressed that once people are demoralized, they become almost immune to facts—even when confronted with undeniable proof. He argued that such individuals could not be reasoned with and would remain trapped in false beliefs unless something drastic forced them to confront reality. He warned that the U.S. was already in a state of undeclared war with Russia—a war being fought not with weapons but with ideology—and that most Americans, including politicians, educators, and the media, were unaware of it. He concluded that unless Americans recognized this internal threat and acted to reverse it, they risked losing their freedom entirely.

Russian banks bailed Trump out after American banks wouldn’t lend to him.

Russian capital saved Trump's fortunes

Despite Donald Trump's repeated denials of having business ties with Russia, substantial evidence shows that he and the Trump Organization have long been financially entangled with Russian individuals and institutions—ties that became especially critical during periods when U.S. banks refused to lend to him due to his repeated business failures. Beginning in the 1980s, Trump pursued real estate deals in Moscow and other ventures involving Russian money. After facing near financial collapse in the 1990s—with billions in debt and multiple bankruptcies—Trump’s fortunes began to recover thanks in large part to Russian capital. With mainstream Wall Street lenders turning their backs on him, Trump increasingly relied on Russian oligarchs and Kremlin-linked entities to keep his business empire afloat.

Russian ties to Trump finances

From the late 1990s through the 2010s, Trump Organization projects frequently received funding from individuals with ties to the Kremlin, including developers and investors involved in controversial deals and alleged money laundering schemes. Notably, the Bayrock Group, co-founded by a former Soviet official, partnered with Trump on multiple ventures, including Trump SoHo. Additionally, a significant portion of real estate sales in Trump-branded buildings—especially in places like Florida—went to Russian buyers, with some transactions raising red flags for potential money laundering. In 2008, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased a Trump property for nearly double its value, a move scrutinized by investigators.

Trump worked with people who had ties to the Russian mob and the FBI

Trump also continued working with figures like Felix Sater, a Russian-American with a criminal background and ties to both the Russian mob and the FBI, who helped spearhead attempts to develop a Trump Tower in Moscow—including during the 2016 election campaign. At the same time, Deutsche Bank, one of the few institutions still willing to lend to Trump, was itself embroiled in a massive Russian money laundering scandal. The bank reportedly provided Trump with hundreds of millions in loans after other major lenders had cut ties, raising concerns about whether Russian-linked funds were involved in bailing him out.

"We don't rely on American banks," says Eric Trump, "We have all the funding we need out of Russia"

Beyond direct funding, Trump’s business model increasingly relied on cash transactions—a tactic favored by Russian buyers and one that bypasses the scrutiny of traditional banking systems. Eric Trump even stated in 2014 that “we don’t rely on American banks” because “we have all the funding we need out of Russia.” These financial connections have drawn intense scrutiny, especially in the context of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and allegations that the Kremlin may have had compromising material (kompromat) on Trump due to these dealings.

While not all of Trump’s Russian associates were necessarily agents of the Kremlin, many were part of a system in which Russia’s oligarchs—often acting as proxies for President Vladimir Putin—used their wealth and influence to further Moscow’s political goals. As such, Trump's dependency on Russian money raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest, foreign leverage, and the foundation for the broader Russia investigation.

Heritage Foundation visits Russian Embassy to confront Putin over NY Times Opinion

In this New York Times op-ed, Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the American public, urging caution against U.S. military intervention in Syria. He argues that bypassing the United Nations Security Council to launch strikes would violate international law and destabilize global order, potentially escalating violence and terrorism.

Putin contends that Syria's conflict is not a battle for democracy, but a civil war involving extremist groups such as Al Qaeda affiliates, some of whom the U.S. has designated as terrorists. He suggests that opposition forces may have used chemical weapons to provoke foreign intervention.

He criticizes U.S. military actions in other nations (e.g., Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan), citing high civilian casualties and ongoing instability, and warns that reliance on force encourages nuclear proliferation, as states seek WMDs for protection.

Putin welcomes the U.S.–Russia initiative to place Syria’s chemical weapons under international control, calling it a path toward diplomacy. He concludes by rejecting American exceptionalism, warning that seeing any nation as superior is dangerous, and emphasizing that “God created us equal.”

"Let’s make the world great again - together!" - Sign in Europe

Yes, it's real.

A real photograph from November 2016 shows a billboard in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, featuring Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin alongside the slogan: "Let's make the world great again — together." The billboard was installed by a pro-Serbian movement, not by the Russian government, although it has often been mistakenly linked to Russia.

Images of the billboard were verified by Getty Images and Reuters, and while some believed it was fake, it is authentic. The billboard reflects regional support for Trump, especially among some Balkan groups that favored improved U.S.-Russia relations following Trump’s election. The billboard’s location in Montenegro, not Russia, is a key detail often misunderstood in reports and social media. (42.54630888099909, 19.100919994824743)

in4s.net, the Serbian news outlet on the poster, was highlighting Trump’s tweets during this time. Here are the translations:

"Having good relations with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only stupid people or fools would think that's a bad thing," new US President Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account yesterday.

“Currently, every step of Donald Trump is being closely monitored. Everything is being reacted to. Every word, gesture, move is negatively qualified by the mainstream media, with the clear aim of satanizing the new American emperor.”

“As a man of dollars and nothing else, Trump is clear that he does not need the production of fear from Putin, and all the propaganda nonsense that accompanies and produces fear and hatred. Putin is his partner in this because he, even more than America, does not need war all around. It costs him much more and he does not have the ambition to enslave half the world. He has the same interest as his main opponent – mastering energy sources and routes.”

Russian Interference in the 2016 Election

1000-page report

A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report released in August 2020 detailed extensive ties between Trump campaign advisers and Russian intelligence during the 2016 election. The nearly 1,000-page report confirms that Russia undertook a sophisticated campaign to help Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton — a conclusion aligned with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s findings. While the committee did not explicitly state whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia, it laid out the facts, leaving interpretations to the public.

Russia tried again in 2020

One of the most striking revelations involves former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, whom the report labels a “grave counterintelligence threat” for sharing sensitive campaign data with Konstantin Kilimnik, a known Russian intelligence officer. The report also confirms that Vladimir Putin ordered the hacking and leaking of Democratic emails and that WikiLeaks likely knew it was aiding a Russian operation. As the 2020 election approached, U.S. officials warned that Russia was again attempting to interfere in the democratic process.

Ex-KGB officer says Trump has been a Russian asset since 1987 - Krasnov

Recruited by the KGB in 1987

A viral claim made by former KGB agent Alnur Mussayev alleges that Donald Trump was recruited by the KGB during a 1987 trip to Moscow and given the codename “Krasnov.” The claim, posted on Facebook in February 2025, quickly gained attention online and was echoed by public figures such as British MP Graham Stuart. However, Mussayev has provided no evidence to support his assertion, and doubts have been raised about the credibility of his role within the KGB. He claims to have worked for the agency’s 6th Directorate, a division reportedly focused on guarding against economic espionage—not recruiting foreign assets.

Unverified, but Signs Point to Truth

Fact-checkers, including Euroverify, have stated they cannot verify the claim. Trump has not responded directly, though he has repeatedly denied any affiliation with Russia, calling such accusations a hoax. Similar allegations have appeared before, most notably in journalist Craig Unger’s 2021 book American Kompromat. Unger, citing former KGB agent Yuri Shvets, suggested that Trump was considered a potential KGB “asset”—a friendly figure useful to the agency, but not formally employed by it. Shvets also claimed Trump had been on Moscow’s radar since the early 1980s, pointing to connections with Soviet-linked businesses and a shift in Trump’s rhetoric after his 1987 Moscow visit. Following that trip, Trump placed expensive full-page ads in U.S. newspapers criticizing American foreign policy and expressing interest in a Trump Tower in Moscow.

British Official saying there’s a possibility trump is a russian asset

British MP Graham Stuart (Conservative) publicly suggested it is a "possibility" that Donald Trump is a Russian asset, calling it potentially “the crowning achievement of Putin’s FSB career.” His post on X (formerly Twitter) follows reports that the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on Russia and that Trump's diplomatic posture appears more favorable toward Moscow than Kyiv.

Stuart's remarks come amid growing concerns in Europe about Trump's approach to the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly after a contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump allegedly demanded concessions from Ukraine while making no demands of Putin.

Other European and U.S. officials echoed fears about Trump's stance. Critics argue that Trump is undermining NATO unity, sidelining Ukraine, and advancing Russia’s interests—intentionally or not. Some describe Trump as a "de facto Russian asset," even if not officially working for Russia.

Trump secretly sent COVID-19 testing machines to Putin during the pandemic.

Bob Woodward’s book War makes explosive claims about Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, including that Trump secretly sent scarce COVID-19 testing machines to Putin for personal use during the pandemic and has allegedly maintained private communication with the Russian leader since leaving office. The Kremlin also claimed this happened.

The book cites an unnamed Trump aide who claims Trump and Putin may have spoken several times since 2021, including once when Trump reportedly asked the aide to leave the room for a private call with Putin. However, Woodward could not independently verify these claims, and the Kremlin denies any such contact occurred.

One notable anecdote in the book says Putin asked Trump not to publicize the delivery of the COVID tests, allegedly saying it would hurt Trump’s image. Trump reportedly responded, “I don’t care. Fine.”

Trump made private calls to Putin since he left office after his first term

According to journalist Bob Woodward, former President Donald Trump has had multiple private phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office, including one in early 2024 at Mar-a-Lago, during which he reportedly asked an aide to leave the room. The aide claimed there may have been as many as seven such calls, though the content of the conversations remains unknown.

Trump’s team denied the claims, with senior adviser Jason Miller expressing skepticism while acknowledging that Trump and Putin “would know how to get in touch.” Trump’s spokesperson dismissed Woodward’s reporting as false and politically motivated, and the Kremlin also denied the calls took place.

Putin on Tucker Carlson Interview - Scott Simon’s Analysis

Scott Simon's commentary on Tucker Carlson’s interview with Vladimir Putin highlights both what the interview revealed and what it conspicuously avoided. While Carlson became the first American to interview Putin since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he failed to ask crucial questions—such as about the imprisonment and deaths of political opponents, including Alexei Navalny, or the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Putin for war crimes.

Instead, Carlson posted a glowing video praising the cleanliness and grandeur of Moscow’s Kiyevskaya metro station, marveling at the lack of graffiti and comparing it favorably to U.S. infrastructure. Though he claimed it wasn’t an endorsement of Putin or Stalin (under whose regime the station was built), the segment implied admiration for the Russian system despite its authoritarianism.

Trump says Ukraine started the war

Donald Trump made several inaccurate claims about the war in Ukraine, drawing widespread criticism. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, Trump wrongly suggested that Ukraine started the war, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections,” and claimed millions of people had been killed in the conflict. He also questioned the transparency of U.S. aid to Ukraine.

War origins: Trump said Ukraine "started" the war, but in reality, Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This full-scale invasion followed years of aggression, including Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and backing of separatist movements in eastern Ukraine.

Elections and martial law: Trump claimed Ukraine hasn’t held elections. While that’s true since 2019, Ukrainian law prohibits elections under martial law, which is still in place due to the war. Zelenskyy has stated elections will resume once martial law ends.

Zelenskyy’s approval rating: Trump claimed Zelenskyy’s approval is just 4%, but the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology reported it at 57%. Zelenskyy labeled Trump’s claim as Russian disinformation.

Casualties: Trump asserted that “millions” have been killed. While the true toll is difficult to verify, current estimates suggest about 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians have died—far short of millions.

U.S. aid to Ukraine: Trump claimed $350 billion was sent and that Zelenskyy didn’t know where half went. In reality, Congress has approved about $183 billion in aid. Of that, a significant portion is spent within the U.S. on defense production, refugee support, and broader NATO-related efforts. Zelenskyy acknowledged not all of it reaches Ukraine directly, as much of it is allocated to U.S.-based or international programs tied to the war effort.

Russian media was in the Oval Office for the Trump-Zelensky sit down when American news outlets like AP and Reuters were barred from entry.

A Russian state media reporter from TASS gained access to the Oval Office during a meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, even though major outlets like AP and Reuters were barred. The White House claimed the TASS journalist was not authorized and was removed once discovered. This incident occurred shortly after the Trump administration stripped the White House Correspondents’ Association of its role in selecting press pool members, a break from tradition. Critics have flagged the episode as a serious security lapse, especially since it mirrors a 2017 controversy when TASS was the only media allowed into a Trump meeting with Russian officials.

Hegseth ordered cyber defense to stop standing up against Russian cyber attacks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a halt to all offensive cyber and information operations against Russia in late February 2025. The duration of the suspension is unclear. The move comes amid President Trump’s renewed efforts to engage diplomatically with Russia and end the war in Ukraine, including peace talks and attempts to improve relations. Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, accused Trump of appeasing Putin despite ongoing Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine, NATO allies, and U.S. infrastructure. U.S. intelligence and private sector reports continue to warn that Russia poses a serious global cyber threat.