Understanding the Origins of the Trump-Putin Dynamic
In early 2017, American intelligence agencies concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had orchestrated a campaign to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The primary goals, as assessed by intelligence officials, were to erode Americans’ faith in their democratic process and to weaken the U.S.-led “liberal world order,” which Moscow viewed as a threat to its security. Moreover, the agencies found that Russia sought to assist Donald Trump in winning the election. Eight years later, Trump, during a contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, dismissed the idea of Russian interference as a “phony witch hunt,” aligning himself with Putin as a fellow victim. This exchange offered a glimpse into Trump’s worldview, where he often sees common cause with Putin, framing both of them as targets of mutual adversaries, including Democrats, European leaders, and a perceived “deep state” within the U.S. government.
Theories Behind Trump’s Affinity for Putin
The relationship between Trump and Putin has long been the subject of intense scrutiny, with American government inquiries, foreign intelligence assessments, and media investigations uncovering evidence that supports various theories about Trump’s affinity for the Russian leader. While no single explanation fully captures the dynamic, Trump’s public actions since returning to office have consistently aligned with Kremlin interests, making his stance toward Putin more consequential than ever. Former CIA counterintelligence chief Susan Miller has posited that Trump’s admiration for Putin stems from “autocrat envy”—a desire for the unchecked power Putin wields in Russia. “Trump likes Putin because Putin has control over his country,” Miller said, “and Trump wants control over his country.” This sentiment reflects a broader pattern in Trump’s behavior, where he often praises authoritarian leaders while expressing disdain for democratic norms.
Trump’s Actions and Their Alignment with Kremlin Interests
Trump’s actions during his first six weeks back in office further underscored his alignment with Putin’s priorities. He has accused Zelensky of starting the war in Ukraine, despite the fact that it was Russia that invaded the country in February 2022. Trump has also cut off critical intelligence sharing with Ukraine, undermined American foreign aid programs opposed by Russia, and sidelined European allies, whom he has described as untrustworthy. Additionally, Trump has defended his actions by claiming they are necessary to bring Russia to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine. However, his approach has been lopsided, pushing Zelensky to make concessions while showing little pressure on Putin. On one day alone, Trump publicly threatened economic sanctions against Russia for its military actions in Ukraine, only to later downplay Russia’s aggression, suggesting that Putin’s bombing of Ukraine was a sign he wanted to end the war. Calder Walton, a historian at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, described the situation as the “dismantling before our eyes of the U.S.-led international order,” a goal Putin has pursued throughout his career.
The Kremlin’s Response to Trump’s Policies
Russian officials have been quick to praise Trump’s recent decisions, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming that the Trump administration’s agenda “largely aligns with our vision.” Similarly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rewritten historical narratives to absolve the United States of blame for global conflicts, instead blaming European nations for historical tragedies such as the Crusades, the Napoleonic wars, and the rise of Hitler. These statements reflect a broader effort by Moscow to reshape global perceptions and weaken the U.S.-led international order. At the same time, Trump’s convergence with Putin’s views on Ukraine has become increasingly apparent, with both leaders framing the conflict as a “proxy war” between the U.S. and Russia rather than a clear case of Russian aggression. This alignment has been welcomed by the Kremlin, with Peskov noting that the White House and Moscow’s positions are now “perfectly” aligned.
The Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Russian Interference
Despite Trump’s dismissals, the U.S. intelligence community has remained clear about Russia’s intentions in the 2016 election. Susan Miller, the former head of counterintelligence at the CIA, recalled that her team had no doubt about Russia’s goals: to spread disinformation, sow chaos, and undermine confidence in the democratic process. While the intelligence assessment carefully avoided taking a partisan stance, it has been a target of Trump’s ire, with the former president repeatedly referring to the investigation as a “Russia hoax.” During the first Trump administration, Miller found herself under scrutiny from prosecutors led by John Durham, who was appointed by Attorney General William Barr to investigate the origins of the FBI’s Russia probe. Despite grueling questioning, Miller’s team was cleared of any bias, and the intelligence assessment was vindicated. Yet, Trump’s grievances over the “Russia hoax” have only deepened, further solidifying his alliance with Putin in his mind.
The Convergence of Trump and Putin’s Views on Ukraine
The convergence of Trump and Putin’s views on Ukraine has its roots in their first in-person meeting in July 2017, when Putin disparaged Ukraine as corrupt and historically tied to Russia. He even justified Russian military operations in Ukraine by invoking the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt’s interventionism in Latin America—a historical parallel that resonated with Trump, who has long admired Roosevelt. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later described the meeting as a classic Putin “K.G.B. shtick,” with Trump failing to challenge any of Putin’s assertions about Ukraine. This dynamic has only intensified over time, with Trump’s 2019 impeachment further-radicalizing his views on Ukraine. During a phone call with Zelensky that year, Trump conditioned U.S. military support on Ukraine’s willingness to investigate his political opponents, an episode that deepened Trump’s distrust of Ukraine and his perceived enemies in the U.S. government. Today, as Trump presses Ukraine to negotiate a peace deal with Russia, his administration’s rhetoric increasingly echoes Kremlin talking points, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the conflict as a dangerous “proxy war” between the U.S. and Russia—a characterization that aligns perfectly with Putin’s worldview.