The Comprehensive Guide to Trump’s Putin Fetish

Summary

Bulwark Takes: The Comprehensive Guide to Trump’s Putin Fetish Release Date: May 6, 2025

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosted by The Bulwark team, Will Salitan delves deep into former President Donald Trump's complex and controversial relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Titled "The Comprehensive Guide to Trump’s Putin Fetish," the episode explores the origins, developments, and implications of what Salitan describes as Trump’s almost personal affinity for Putin, despite numerous geopolitical tensions and conflicts involving Russia.

---

1. Origins of Trump's Affinity for Putin

Will Salitan sets the stage by comparing Trump's relationship with Putin to famous historical romances, albeit with a political twist. He references a pivotal moment from a decade ago when Putin publicly praised Trump during Trump's presidential campaign, leading to Trump's immediate admiration.

• Notable Quote:

  “When Trump heard that, he practically blushed.” (00:28)

Salitan highlights Trump's positive reception of Putin's compliments, emphasizing the foundation of their unusual rapport.

2. Dismissal of Intelligence Warnings

Salitan discusses how, following Putin's praise, Trump began to downplay the warnings from U.S. intelligence officials regarding Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. This dismissal set the tone for Trump’s continued support of Putin.

• Notable Quotes:

  "Trump was so smitten that he would not listen when Joe Scarborough tried to warn him about Putin." (02:06)

  "Wow. So Trump really had a thing for a strong man, even one who murders people and invades other countries." (02:31)

Joe Scarborough, acting as a voice of reason, attempts to caution Trump about Putin’s actions, but Trump’s admiration overshadows these concerns.

3. The Russia Investigation and Closed-Door Summit

The episode details the Russia investigation, emphasizing that U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to aid Trump’s campaign.

• Notable Quote:

  “I don't see any reason why it would be. I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.” – Trump (04:12)

Salitan criticizes Trump for disregarding his own intelligence community's findings, illustrating Trump's unwavering support for Putin even when evidence suggested malign intentions.

4. Reigniting the Relationship in the White House

With Trump’s return to the White House, the relationship rekindles amidst renewed tensions, particularly with Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Salitan recounts a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where Trump continued to defend Putin’s actions.

• Notable Quote:

  “I've known him for a long time. I've dealt with him for a long time. He had to suffer through the Russia hoax... I think that he wants to make a deal and he liked to see it end.” – Trump (05:37)

Despite Ukraine being under attack, Trump frames the conflict as a misunderstanding stemming from the so-called "Russia hoax," further entrenching his support for Putin.

5. Undermining Ukraine and Supporting Putin

Salitan emphasizes how Trump’s actions, such as cutting off military aid to Ukraine, effectively pressure Zelensky to concede to Putin’s demands, undermining Ukraine’s defense.

• Notable Quote:

  “He's doing what anybody else would do.” – Trump (09:38)

Trump justifies his decision to halt aid by equating his actions to what any reasonable leader might do in the same position, thereby excusing his support for Putin's aggressive strategies.

6. Blaming Ukraine and Dismissing Previous Invasions

The episode highlights Trump's tendency to blame Ukraine for Russian aggression and to dismiss historical invasions like Crimea’s annexation by Russia.

• Notable Quote:

  “Crimea... that was handed over during a president named Barack Hussein Obama... they just handed it over.” – Trump (12:12)

Salitan criticizes Trump for rewriting history to exonerate Putin, portraying Russian invasions as consensual or insignificant, thereby ignoring the brutal realities of such actions.

7. Personal Bond Over Shared Antisemitism

While not explicitly detailed in the transcript, Salitan alludes to Trump’s admiration for Putin’s domineering and ruthless characteristics, drawing parallels between their personal traits and leadership styles.

• Notable Quote:

  “I'm the only one Vladimir will talk to. I'm the only one he trusts.” – Trump (14:19)

This quote underscores the exclusive and personal nature of Trump's relationship with Putin, suggesting a bond that transcends standard diplomatic interactions.

8. Implications and Future Outlook

Salitan concludes by warning of the dangerous implications of Trump’s favoritism towards Putin. He suggests that this misplaced affinity could have severe consequences for international relations, American allies, and global stability.

---

Conclusion

Bulwark Takes presents a critical examination of Donald Trump's enduring fascination with Vladimir Putin, highlighting the political and ethical dilemmas such a relationship poses. Through detailed analysis and compelling quotes, Will Salitan paints a picture of a leader whose personal biases may undermine national and global security interests.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hello, it is Ryan. And we could all use an extra bright spot in our day, couldn't we? Just to make up for things like sitting in traffic, doing the dishes, counting your steps, you know, all the mundane stuff. That is why I'm such a big fan of Chumba Casino. Chumba Casino has all your favorite social casino style games that you can play for free, anytime, anywhere with daily bonuses that should brighten your day a little. Actually, a lot. So sign up [e-mail] that's chumbacasino.com no purchase necessary.

[Will Salitan]

B2 prohibited by law. See terms and conditions 18+. Hey, everybody. It's Will Salitan from the Bulwark. Can you feel it? It's springtime. Love is in the air. It's the time of year when we think of sweethearts like Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, and of course, Donald and Vladimir. No. Some of you may be thinking, really, does Donald Trump truly love Vladimir Putin? And I'll admit the only two people who really understand a romantic relationship are the two people who are in it. But what I want to show you today, and please, let's not gossip about this, is what these two lovebirds have been doing in public. And specifically, I want to show you the highly suggestive way Trump has been talking about the man of his dreams. First, a quick reminder about how this courtship began. Ten years ago, when Trump was running for president, Putin gave a news conference in which he said Trump was, in English terms, bright and talented. And when Trump heard that, he practically blushed. Here's Trump the next day on Morning Joe. Do you like Vladimir Putin's comments about you? Sure.

[Joe Scarborough]

When people call you brilliant, it's always good, especially when the person heads up Russia.

[Will Salitan]

In fact, Trump was so smitten that he would not listen when Joe Scarborough tried to warn him about Putin.

[Joe Scarborough]

Well, I mean, also as a person that kills journalists, political, I mean, political opponents and invades countries and invades countries, obviously that would be a concern, would it not? He's running this country and at least he's a leader, you know, unlike what we have in this country.

[Will Salitan]

Wow. So Trump really had a thing for a strong man, even one who murders people and invades other countries. Which, by the way, the country Putin had just invaded a year before that interview was Ukraine. But Scarborough tried to warn Trump one more time, don't date him, girl.

[Joe Scarborough]

But again, he kills journalists that don't agree with him. Well, I think our country does plenty of killing also, Joe.

[Will Salitan]

So, you know, so that was the beginning of the relationship. Trump Made it clear that he liked Putin, really liked Putin. And no matter who Putin killed, Trump thought Putin was hotter, sorry, better than the leaders of the United States. And then, as you probably remember, Putin authorized a cyber hacking operation to help Trump win the 2016 election. And that led to the whole Russia investigation. And look, there's a lot of debate about what that investigation found, but the one finding that was super clear, according to Dan Coats, Trump's Director of National Intelligence and every US Intelligence agency, was that Russia did the hacking. So in 2018, when Trump and Putin got together behind closed doors at a summit in Finland, Trump asked Putin whether it was true that Russia did the hacking. And when Trump came out of that room, here's what he told the press.

[Joe Scarborough]

My people came to me. Dan Coats came to me and some others. They said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said, it's not Russia. I will say this. I don't see any reason why it would be. I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.

[Will Salitan]

And that was it. Trump wouldn't listen to his own intelligence experts. He believed Putin because Putin was strong and powerful. In fact, Trump said the American investigation of Putin was a terrible thing because it was keeping Trump away from, from the man he wanted to be with.

[Joe Scarborough]

The probe is a disaster for our country, I think. It's kept us apart, it's kept us separated.

[Will Salitan]

So that was seven years ago. Now Trump is back in the White House. And two months ago, he hosted a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. And Zelensky, whose country was under attack again from another Russian invasion, tried to warn Trump again about Putin, But Trump still wouldn't listen. Here's what Trump said when a reporter asked him why he believed that Putin, who at that moment was literally waging war, actually wanted peace.

[Joe Scarborough]

I've known him for a long time. I've dealt with him for a long time. He had to suffer through the Russia hoax. You know, Russia, Russia, Russia was a hoax. It was all Biden. It was nothing to do with him. So he had to suffer through that. And he was able to do that. I think that he wants to make a deal and he liked to see it end.

[Will Salitan]

That was an eye opening confession. Here's Trump sitting next to Zelensky, whose country is under bombardment from Russia. And despite that, Trump chose to talk about what he saw as Putin's suffering. Trump was telling the world that the investigation of Putin's interference in our election had only deepened the sympathy Trump felt for Putin. And as that meeting with Zelensky went on, Trump got more and more agitated. By the end, he was practically shouting his love for the man in Moscow.

[Joe Scarborough]

Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt where they used him and Russia, and he had to go through that. And he did go through it. We didn't end up in a war, and he went through it. He was accused of all that stuff. He had nothing to do with it. It came out of Hunter Biden's bathroom.

[Will Salitan]

You can hear the passion in Trump's voice. You can see it on his face. This is not geopolitics. This is an emotional connection. It's the kind of connection that can blind a lover to the danger posed by the man he loves. Watch what happened in that meeting when Zelensky reminded Trump that Putin had repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements.

[Joe Scarborough]

25 times he broken his own signature. 25 times he broken ceasefire. But he never broke to me. Never broke to me. No, no. You were the president. You were the president during. He never broke to me.

[Will Salitan]

That's the way a besotted lover thinks. She won't listen when you tell her that the guy she's after has betrayed other women. She thinks she's special. He's never betrayed me, she says. And watch what happened when Zelensky reminded Trump that two of the presidents Putin betrayed, Joe Biden and Barack Obama, were Americans.

[Joe Scarborough]

It doesn't matter for you what? That wasn't with me. That was with a guy named Biden who was not a smart person. That was your. That was with Obama. It was your president. Excuse me, that was with Obama.

[Will Salitan]

Zelensky thought that Trump would care that other American presidents had been betrayed. What Zelensky didn't understand was that Trump felt nothing for Biden or Obama. Trump didn't care that those guys were American because Trump doesn't love America. Trump loves himself. And the fact that that Putin betrayed Biden and Obama, the men Trump views as his real enemies, only strengthens Trump's conviction that he and Putin have something special. This bond that Trump feels with Putin is deadly serious after that meeting with Zelensky, Trump didn't punish Russia for bombing Ukraine. Trump cut off American aid to Ukraine to pressure Zelensky to surrender Ukrainian territory to Putin. And a week later, when a reporter pointed out that Putin was still bombing Ukraine, here's what Trump said.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Do you, Mr. President, think that Vladimir.

[Joe Scarborough]

Putin is taking advantage of the US Pause right now on intelligence and military aid to Ukraine. I actually think he's doing what anybody else would do. I. I think he's. I think he wants to get it stopped and settled, and I think he's hitting him harder than he's been hitting him, and I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now. He wants to get it ended.

[Will Salitan]

He's doing what anybody else would do. That is an American president defending a Russian dictator who is bombing an American ally. Trump was mentally putting himself in Putin's position and saying, hey, I'd be doing the same thing. You can see how strongly Trump identifies with Putin. And in case there was any doubt, Trump spoke again about his feelings for.

[Joe Scarborough]

Putin despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax. I've always had a good relationship with Putin, and, you know, he wants to end the war. He wants to end it, and I think he's going to be more generous than he has to be, and that's pretty good.

[Will Salitan]

You can hear Trump making excuses for Putin the way some people make excuses for a man who beats up women. Hey, it could have been worse. Let's give Putin credit for not killing even more people and stealing even more land. And three weeks ago, when Russia killed more than 30 Ukrainian civilians in another missile attack, Trump blamed Ukraine and America.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Mr. President, you repeatedly mentioned last night.

[Joe Scarborough]

That Russia's attack on Ukraine was a mistake.

[Ryan Seacrest]

What is the exact mistake?

[Joe Scarborough]

And have you given Putin a deadline.

[Ryan Seacrest]

To actually move toward a ceasefire?

[Joe Scarborough]

The mistake was letting the war happen. If Biden were competent and if Zelensky were competent, and I don't know that he is, we had a rough session with this guy over here. He just kept asking for more and more. That war should have never been allowed to happen.

[Will Salitan]

In fact, Trump accused Ukraine, Putin's victim, of starting the war.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Have you spoken to President Zelensky, sir.

[Joe Scarborough]

About his offer to purchase more Patriot missiles? Oh, I don't know. He's always looking to purchase missiles. You know, he's. He's against. Listen, when you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war, right? You don't start a war against somebody that's 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles again.

[Will Salitan]

That's classic victim blaming. Trump is so determined to love Putin that he's willing to blame Ukraine for Putin's violence, and he's willing to whitewash Putin's long history of brutality. Here's what Trump said a couple of weeks ago about Putin's previous invasion of Crimea, another Ukrainian territory.

[Joe Scarborough]

When you say Crimea, that was Handed over during a president named Barack Hussein Obama. That was. Had nothing to do with me. Crimea. That was 11 years ago with Obama. And they made a decision. There wasn't a bullet fire. There was no, no fighting. There was no anything. They just handed it over. Now they say, well, can you get it back? I think that's going to be a very difficult thing to do. That was given by Barack Obama when he was president, not by Donald Trump.

[Will Salitan]

Can you believe that? Trump says Obama gave Crimea to Putin. He says there was no violence. They just handed it over as a reminder. Putin literally sent tanks into Crimea. Russian forces surrounded Ukraine's military bases, broke into government buildings, and threw everybody out. But Trump says the victim consented, which, come to think of it, is also the way he talks about women. Remember this?

[Joe Scarborough]

And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything, whatever you want. Grab them by the pussy, do anything.

[Will Salitan]

That was a classic bro moment. Couple of guys bonding over their shared contempt for women. And that bond between the men is what was really going on in that conversation. It's not the women Trump admires. It's the man who steps up and grabs those women. That's what Trump sees in Putin, a man who, who takes what he wants. And Trump loves that. Watch this clip of Trump on Friday talking to Kristen Welker about his special chemistry with Putin.

[Joe Scarborough]

You know that the European Union leaders have asked me to call Putin so many times because he doesn't return their phone call, because he wasn't dealing with anybody in Europe. He wasn't calling back. Do you know that? I asked him, I said, did Biden ever call you? In three years, did Biden ever call? He said he never called. You know, Biden didn't call him one.

[Will Salitan]

Time, poor Vladimir Biden never called him. Biden didn't appreciate him. But I do, says Trump. I'm the only one Vladimir will talk to. I'm the only one he trusts. Look, it's obvious there's something going on between these two guys, and it's not just money or favors. The President of the United States clearly has a thing for the president of Russia. And nothing, not human rights, not democracy, not hundreds of thousands of dead Ukrainians can stand between them. See you next time.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Ryan Seacrest here. When you have a busy schedule, it's important to maximize your downtime. One of the best ways to do that is by going to chumbacasino.com Chumba Casino has all your favorite social casino games like spin slots, bingo and solitaire that you can play for free for a chance to redeem some serious prizes. So hop on to chumbacasino.com now and live the Chumba life. Sponsored by Chumba Casino.

[Will Salitan]

No purchase necessary.

[Joe Scarborough]

VGW Group void where prohibited by law.

[Will Salitan]

21/ Terms and Conditions apply.