Schumer Criticizes Trump After Alaska Meeting with Putin
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized President Trump following a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that ended without any agreements in Alaska.
“Trump sells out Ukraine again and looks like he’s bowing to dictator Putin,” Schumer posted on social media. He remarked, “There is no Nobel Peace Prize for that.”
This backlash came just days after former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested she might nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize if a ceasefire came from Putin.
Trump and Putin held a three-hour discussion on Friday at Elmendorf Richardson’s joint military base in Anchorage. While no specifics were disclosed, Trump characterized the meeting as “productive,” mentioning that while no deal was finalized, some progress was noted.
“We didn’t get there, but we have a chance,” Trump told reporters afterwards, avoiding further inquiries. He later briefed NATO and European leaders, who decided to enhance their support for Ukraine.
In separate comments late Friday, Schumer accused Trump of giving Putin a “red carpet” welcome.
“Instead of standing with Ukraine and our allies, Trump was right there with dictators who have threatened Ukraine and the world for years,” he stated. Schumer noted, “While we await crucial details about their discussion, it seems like Trump will grant Putin legitimacy and a global platform—without any accountability—in return.”
“Our concern is that this wasn’t genuine diplomacy; it might just be theatrics,” he added.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity later, Trump defended the summit’s results, saying the onus was on Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an agreement. Trump and Zelensky are set to meet in the Oval Office on Monday.
Earlier this week, Clinton indicated she would support Trump’s efforts toward the Nobel Peace Prize if he could help end a three-year conflict without conceding Ukrainian territories to Russia. However, Zelensky resisted Trump’s suggestion that a territorial exchange could be necessary since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
“We will never leave Donbas,” he affirmed during a press interaction on Tuesday.
