California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office didn’t hold back when pictures of American soldiers kneeling to roll out and polish a red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in Alaska surfaced on Friday.
The images, which were released by the Associated Press, showed military employees crouching on their knees as Donald Trump prepared to welcome his counterpart from the Kremlin with pomp, ceremony, and, according to his detractors, a good measure of deference.
When Trump unveiled the red carpet for his dearest pal Vlad, our courageous American soldiers were on their toes! By publishing on X, Newsom’s press account imitated Trump’s erratic internet persona. The final word in all uppercase was DISGUSTING.
The optics, as Washington insiders like to say, were undeniable. The world has rejected Putin since he invaded Ukraine in 2022, but instead of cold formality, he was greeted with a royal celebration.
The main focus of Friday’s meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage was the high-stakes attempt to negotiate halting Russia’s war in Ukraine. It became a day of picture opportunities and performative fawning instead.
When Trump welcomed Putin with a cordial handshake, applauded his arrival, and then escorted him in a private sedan, he sparked outrage from both home and foreign quarters.
Ultimately, there had been no breakthroughs, no agreements, and most definitely no path to peace.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, claimed on Telegram that the show was proof that Moscow was no longer alone. She added, “They have been reporting on Russia’s isolation for three years, and today they witnessed the red carpet being laid to greet the Russian president in the United States.”
In Ukraine, however, the reaction was one of surprise and dismay. Maria Drachova, a lawyer from Kyiv, told the BBC that the rational world is acting irrationally by welcoming him.The entire affair seems to have been planned to appease Putin.
Trump gave Putin everything he desired: the opportunity to act as an equal to improve his domestic status, the red carpet in the United States, the opportunity to act as though he wants peace, and the removal of additional sanctions—all while continuing to attack Ukraine.
It was an embarrassing day for America.uwKmmAFsSt pic.twitter.com/
August 16, 2025: Republicans Against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump)
American fighter jets hovered overhead as Russia hailed Putin’s red carpet walk as a diplomatic triumph. Analysts said it represented a symbolic reversal for a leader accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
Trump essentially granted Putin legitimacy, according to Kier Giles of Chatham House, who told the BBC that Putin should be having trouble traveling since he is a war criminal on the international wanted list. The pictures struck a considerably deeper chord in Ukraine, where Putin’s actions since 2022 have caused millions of people to be uprooted and entire regions to be put to rubble.
Serhii Orlyk, a displaced citizen of Donetsk, described it as an extremely disagreeable sight, particularly his smirks.
A sense of imbalance was even exacerbated by Trump’s press remarks after the summit, in which he spoke for just two minutes while Putin spoke for eight. Giles continued by saying that other leaders will be less inclined to support Putin’s demands on Ukraine as a result of Trump’s mistake.
IT IS THERE.
THE IMAGE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD:
Trump extends the red carpet treatment and greatest honors to a murdered KGB tyrant while welcoming Putin and Russia’s illicit billions.
For a percentage, he will betray America and Ukraine.Twitter: pic.twitter.com/bgqw4paVSB
August 15, 2025 Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance)
The focus of Newsom’s criticism was American identity, not merely appearances.
In order to emphasize a larger point—that the US was demonstrating reverence for an authoritarian leader who murdered hundreds of thousands of people—the California governor, who frequently attacks Trump, utilized the picture of soldiers kneeling in front of Putin.
The message quickly gained thousands of shares, went viral, and sparked a contentious internet debate. Supporters of Trump argued that Newsom expressed the fury that many Americans felt, while others disregarded the critique as political theater.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, urged European leaders to stay involved in future talks and not turn their backs on Trump and Putin. Ukraine could not afford another phony respect arrangement, he said.
