Russian President Vladimir Putin prayed for Donald Trump following the assassination attempt on the former U.S. president last summer. This was revealed by American businessman and special envoy Steve Witkoff during an episode of Tucker Carlson’s podcast, hosted by the former Fox News anchor. In the interview, Witkoff shared details of his meeting with Putin in Moscow, where they discussed potential terms for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin’s Personal Reaction to the Shooting
According to Witkoff, during their second in-person meeting, Putin recalled how he responded to the attempted assassination of Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July of last year.
“When the president was shot, he went to his local church, met with his priest, and prayed for the president,” Witkoff said.
He added, “He had a friendship with him, and he was praying for his friend.” Witkoff noted that he later relayed this touching story to Trump, who was “clearly moved.”
The assassination attempt took place on July 13, 2024, when Trump, then the presumptive Republican nominee, was speaking to supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania. He was grazed by a bullet fired by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. According to Politico, the Kremlin at the time blamed Trump’s political opponents for fostering a climate of hatred that led to the attack.
A Gifted Portrait and Warm Sentiments
Witkoff also revealed that Putin had commissioned a “beautiful portrait” of Trump by one of Russia’s top artists, which was later gifted to the former U.S. president. According to Witkoff, the gesture was a genuine expression of respect and friendship between the two leaders.
Donald Trump has long expressed admiration for Putin, calling him a “genius” and a “strong leader.” These statements have drawn criticism from Trump’s political opponents, who accuse him of being overly soft on the Kremlin.
Phone Call About Ending the War
As reported by Politico, earlier this week Putin and Trump spoke on the phone for approximately two hours to discuss a possible end to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump described the call as “very good and productive.”
While no official agreements have been disclosed, the fact that a direct dialogue took place between the former U.S. president and the Russian leader has drawn significant attention from international media.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Politico. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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