URGENT UPDATE: Fox News host Howard Kurtz has delivered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump following his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. During his Sunday broadcast of Media Buzz, Kurtz stated that despite some “upbeat talk” after the meeting, “it was clear not much was accomplished.”
Kurtz highlighted that there was “no ceasefire, no details, no questions from the press,” calling the post-summit statements merely “vague assurances” with no substantive explanations. At a joint press conference, Trump asserted that “many points were agreed to,” yet admitted he “didn’t get there” on the peace deal he proposed for Ukraine and Russia.
The presser, initially expected to be a news conference, concluded without any questions from journalists. Kurtz remarked, “President Trump, to his credit, didn’t oversell what happened, or more precisely, what didn’t happen.” The meeting notably excluded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and followed a White House effort to lower expectations significantly, revealing Trump’s inability to secure a deal acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.
The backlash from the media was swift; Kurtz noted that the reactions varied but leaned sharply negative. Guest Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of the conservative National Review, described the summit as a “setback” for Trump, indicating that Putin gained an advantage by delaying discussions on a ceasefire and persuading Trump to refrain from imposing secondary sanctions.
Adding to the drama, Trump took to Truth Social earlier today, expressing outrage over the negative media coverage. He claimed, “Fake News violently distorts the TRUTH when it comes to me.” Kurtz emphasized that Trump perceives the summit as a success, despite growing evidence to the contrary.
While some political figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pushed back against claims that Trump supports Putin’s agenda, they acknowledged the complexities involved. Rubio stated, “These are things that the Ukrainian side is going to have to agree to,” suggesting that the negotiations are far from resolved.
Former Biden aide Meghan Hays criticized Trump for giving Putin the “red carpet treatment” during the summit, marking the first time in a decade that the Russian leader has been on U.S. soil. Hays argued that the U.S. has effectively “validated” Putin, shifting its allegiance away from Ukraine and NATO allies.
Despite the anticipation leading up to the summit, Putin left without facing new sanctions, a stark contrast to Trump’s earlier threats. As the situation develops, the implications of this summit could have lasting effects on U.S. foreign policy and international relations.
Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding story as officials and analysts continue to assess the ramifications of this contentious summit.