Trump Claims Putin Has Gone Crazy

Donald Trump expressed surprise Sunday at the escalating violence in Ukraine, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have undergone a significant change in behavior. Despite previously characterizing his relationship with Putin as “very good,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Putin is “killing a lot of people” without justification.

Trump’s comments come years into the conflict initiated by Putin, but suggest a newly critical perspective. He posited that Putin’s actions indicate a desire to conquer all of Ukraine, predicting this ambition would ultimately lead to “the downfall of Russia.” He also leveled criticism at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming his rhetoric is detrimental to his country’s interests and “causes problems.”

The former president sought to distance himself from the conflict, stating a war of this magnitude “would never have started” under his leadership. He characterized the current situation as a conflict driven by Zelenskyy, Putin, and President Biden, framing his own role as solely focused on damage control stemming from what he described as “Gross Incompetence and Hatred.”

While Trump’s past admiration for Putin is well-documented, this recent commentary marks a noticeable shift in tone, though it remains focused on self-exoneration and assigning blame to others. The assertion that Putin has “gone crazy” is a strong condemnation, particularly given their previously reported rapport. However, the simultaneous criticism of Zelenskyy and the framing of the conflict as not “Trump’s” war suggests a continued prioritization of political positioning over a comprehensive assessment of the situation in Ukraine.