Hot mic catches Trump’s ‘crazy’ whisper to French prez Macron before multilateral meeting
A hot mic caught former President Donald Trump making a surprising comment ahead of a closed-door White House meeting on Ukraine, suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to strike a peace deal — but only if Trump is involved.
“I think he [Putin] wants to make a deal,” Trump was heard whispering to French President Emmanuel Macron. “I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.” The remark, made in the East Room as Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and seven European leaders, offered a glimpse into Trump’s interpretation of his recent conversation with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
Trump and special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, who also attended Friday’s summit with Putin, claim they secured an unprecedented verbal agreement: that Russia would allow the U.S. and NATO to defend Ukraine if any future peace deal is violated.
“We were sort of able to get an agreement that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection,” Witkoff told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, referring to NATO’s mutual defense clause. “It’s the first time we’ve ever heard the Russians agree to that.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the development on Monday, calling it a “breakthrough.”
“The fact that you’ve said, ‘I’m willing to participate in security guarantees,’ is a big step,” Rutte said. “It makes all the difference. Thank you for that.”
However, Moscow quickly appeared to distance itself from the alleged deal. In a statement to Kremlin-owned Ria Novosti, the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated its opposition to any NATO military presence in Ukraine, saying it “categorically rejects” such scenarios. Putin has not personally commented.
Following the White House meetings, Trump said he called Putin to begin planning direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, potentially followed by a trilateral summit including Trump himself.
“Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”
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