‘WTAF??’ Media World Appalled at Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff’s ‘Nauseating’ Praise of Putin

(Screengrab via X)

President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff triggered an immediate backlash across the political and media spectrum Wednesday after praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during in-person talks in St. Petersburg.

Witkoff made the remark after Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher who had been held by Russia since 2022.

“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir,” Witkoff told the Russian leader.

The moment, captured on video with Witkoff seated across from Putin, quickly spread online and drew disbelief from commentators on both the left and right.

Fox News political analyst Guy Benson responded simply, “Come ON.”

British journalist Piers Morgan posted a vomiting emoji, while Huffington Post’s senior White House correspondent S.V. Date asked whether Witkoff could “be deported to Russia”:

Washington Post columnist Max Boot called the exchange “Nauseating and embarrassing.”

Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum challenged Witkoff’s description directly, writing: “A man who kills civilians, every day, is a ‘humanitarian’? Who kidnaps children? Who authorizes soldiers to use torture and rape?”

CNN analyst Josh Rogin responded with “WTAF”:

Others also piled on to convey disgust:

Hubbard’s release came as Witkoff met Putin for another round of talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Putin announced the American’s release at the start of their meeting, with Trump later touting that Hubbard had been freed without the United States giving anything in return.

The gesture arrives amid a broader warming of relations between Washington and Moscow as Trump presses Kyiv toward a negotiated settlement and seeks expanded economic ties with Russia.

Witkoff has made repeated trips to Russia as one of Trump’s principal intermediaries with the Kremlin.

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