Trump's Mad at Putin Now? Liberation Day Approaches. Signalgate Won't End.

Trump’s Unscripted Diplomacy: From Peace Deals to Economic Threats

Kicking off the Sunday political circuit this week, President Donald Trump dominated headlines following a phone interview on NBC’s Meet the Press. Trump departed from his typical freewheeling style and delivered forceful commentary on two long-time geopolitical rivals: Russia and Iran.

Trump sharply criticized Vladimir Putin, portraying the Russian president as an obstacle to peace in Ukraine. In a rare move, he publicly floated the idea of direct consequences for continued aggression, implying a potential economic offensive. “Would you like for us to rescue your economy?” he rhetorically posed, hinting at both carrot and stick diplomacy. Trump’s hallmark unpredictability was on full display, with his message alternating between offering support and threatening retaliation.

This moment stands in contrast to years of criticism accusing Trump of being overly cozy with the Kremlin. His more combative posture now, some argue, undercuts those narratives. As Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) observed, this turn may blunt attacks portraying Trump as compromised or manipulated by Moscow.