Trump's "Supposed" Turnaround in Alaska
Just Who Is Getting Played Here? Trump? I Don't Think So.
Here's what matters for Alaska: Trump had every intention to help Russia and no intention to help Ukraine.
Why Trump wants Putin to win is open for debate. I have offered my theory in my post Trump's Moral Conundrum and the Putin Superpowers Myth but the reason doesn't matter. What's clear is that from the very beginning of taking office, giving Putin what he wants is what he decided to do. Nothing has changed.
Anytime he feigns otherwise, it's just theater. He even runs interference for Russia whenever Europe or the Senate tries to help. He is not going to help Ukraine and he wants to make sure that nobody else does.
The Year-Long Pattern
Alaska wasn't a sudden flip. It was the culmination of a year-long pattern that only makes sense once you understand Trump's real intentions.
If you strip away the theater, nothing changes over the whole year. Explosive confrontations, touching reconciliations, stern deadlines, dramatic meetings - all performance. The only constant: Trump helps Russia by not helping Ukraine and preventing anyone else from helping Ukraine.
January 20: Trump is inaugurated, having promised throughout his campaign to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. He mentioned this goal at least 53 times on the campaign trail. Ukraine gets no mention in his inaugural address.
February 28: Trump has an explosive televised confrontation with Zelensky in the Oval Office, berating him for ingratitude. Military aid and intelligence sharing suspended within days.
March: Trump threatens "large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED." But then admits he's "finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine" and says "They don't have the cards."
April 24: Trump says of military assistance to Ukraine: "You can ask that question in two weeks, and we'll see, but I think we're getting very close."
April 26: Theater at Pope Francis's funeral - Trump meets Zelensky in St. Peter's Basilica for "productive" discussions on peace, calling it potentially "historic." Nothing changes.
April 27: When asked if he trusts Putin, Trump says: "We'll let you know in about two weeks."
May 19: Trump gives himself another two weeks to determine whether Ukraine is serious about ending the war: "I'd rather tell you in about two weeks from now because I can't say yes or no."
May 28: "I'll let you know in about two weeks, within two weeks," Trump says when asked if Russia is serious about ending the war.
July 14: Trump announces weapons for Ukraine and threatens 100 percent tariffs if Russia doesn't reach a deal in 50 days. Congress had sanctions legislation ready with 85 senators backing it.
July 28: Trump shortens the deadline to "10 or 12 days," saying he's "disappointed in Putin."
August 8: The deadline arrives. No sanctions. Instead, Trump announces he'll meet Putin in Alaska.
It's strategic paralysis by proxy.
Trump presents himself as Ukraine's potential savior while systematically not helping Ukraine and preventing anyone else from helping Ukraine.
Europe stays on the sidelines expecting American leadership that never comes, and Ukraine bleeds while waiting for help from the one country with the power to end this quickly.
Trump's goal is to make sure Putin gets what he wants.
The Flip in Anchorage
Standing on a red carpet with Putin, Trump declared the meeting a "10." No cease-fire, no sanctions, no deadline. Instead, he embraced Putin's preferred approach: a so-called "comprehensive peace" that would force Ukraine to cede territory — even land still in Ukrainian hands.
This was the same man who, just hours earlier on the flight in, had warned that if Putin didn't agree to a cease-fire, he'd be "unhappy" and there would be "severe consequences."
The usual suspects are calling it another case of Putin playing Trump. Critics say "He got played again." The media writes about Trump bowing to Putin's approach.
They're all wrong. Trump didn't get played. The people that think he's getting played got played.
The Real Con
The world cannot accept his deceit, even his detractors. If you think he is being fooled by Putin, then you are the one being fooled. He has been resolute since taking office.
While they analyze his "erratic" behavior and debate whether Putin has "kompromat" or hypnotic powers, Trump executes a year-long strategy to exhaust Ukraine into surrender. The sanctions theater, the false deadlines, the European paralysis — it's all been deliberate. Trump wanted Russia's victory, and he found a way to deliver it while everyone else argued about his competence.
Closing the Books
Trump called Anchorage "a great and very successful day." Of course he did. The mission was accomplished. Russia was protected. Ukraine was hung out to dry.