Trump Says Putin’s U.S. Trip Was ‘Wonderful,’ Blasts Media Narrative

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday rejected characterizations that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the United States represented a setback for him, calling the trip a “wonderful” gesture that was difficult for Putin to undertake. Speaking to supporters, Trump said critics in the press had wrongly portrayed the visit as a political defeat. “There’s a great dishonesty in the press, and that’s why it’s lost its credibility,” he said, adding that Putin’s decision to travel to the United States was “the opposite of what they said.” The remarks underscore Trump’s continued criticism of media coverage of U.S.–Russia relations and his effort to frame the visit as a diplomatic positive rather than a liability amid partisan scrutiny.