By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite President Trump’s attempts to portray the recent summit with Vladimir Putin as a success, sources within his inner circle suggest a different reality, as one insider bluntly texted, “F–ked.” According to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, the summit resulted in significant losses for Trump, with no tangible gains achieved. The welcome given to Putin, including a red carpet and military flyover, stood in stark contrast to Trump’s subsequent “defeated” demeanor and silence during a press conference where no questions were answered. This outcome is particularly concerning, as Trump did not secure the ceasefire he initially sought, and instead, shifted his goals.
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Trump Circles Drop F-Bomb After Failed Putin Summit: Wolff
The fallout from the summit, or what can barely be called a summit, between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, is apparently explosive, even by the standards of the Trump administration. The general sentiment, from what can be gleaned from inside the Trump orbit, seems to be one of utter, abject failure. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a catastrophic humiliation. It seems the expletive most commonly heard within the inner circle was a resounding “F—.”
The summit was a disaster, a display of weakness and ineptitude that even those closest to Trump couldn’t deny. The expectation seems to have been some kind of grand diplomatic triumph, a deal to end the war, or at least a photo opportunity showcasing Trump’s alleged strength. Instead, what played out was a masterclass in how to be played, with Putin emerging as the clear victor, leaving Trump looking foolish and the United States looking, well, pathetic. The idea that Trump, a man known for his transactional approach to everything, could outmaneuver a seasoned, ruthless strategist like Putin was, in retrospect, laughable. The administration was outmaneuvered and, what’s worse, they appeared to see it coming.
The immediate reaction from those within the Trump camp was reportedly one of shock and dismay. To put it mildly, they were not happy. The feeling was that Trump had not only failed to achieve anything of substance but had also made himself look weak and vulnerable. The perception of a “bend the knee” moment to his so-called “master” was nearly universal. The reports of Trump’s staff were that Trump had lost, badly. This was a massive political setback, a disaster for the former president and his future aspirations. But the real loss, that of the lives lost in Ukraine, seems like a secondary concern.
The summit exposed Trump’s limitations, his lack of understanding of foreign policy, and his apparent inability to comprehend Putin’s motivations. It was a glaring reminder of his previous failures in the international arena, where he repeatedly underestimated his opponents and overestimated his own abilities. Time and time again, he’s been played as a fool. The “alpha male” was anything but this morning, with Putin’s dominance on full display. The constant drumbeat of propaganda from partisan networks, and media outlets, simply could not cover this up. For the Trump administration, this meeting was a complete miscalculation.
The summit underscored the fact that Trump’s involvement in this situation was not motivated by a desire to end the war, or concern for the innocent Ukrainian civilians. The focus was apparently centered on something else entirely. The former president’s attempts to secure a Nobel Peace Prize also suggested he’s trying to leverage his own legacy for personal gain. Meanwhile, the Epstein connection to Trump seems to be the only real objective of the trip, and that is a shameful truth for Trump and his staff. All of this, they now say, only helped to keep Trump from having to release the details of his association with the human trafficker and child rapist Jeffrey Epstein.
The failure of the summit has been felt throughout the MAGA sphere. The realization that a ceasefire in Ukraine was/is beyond Trump’s reach. As the reports came out, the internal dialogue quickly shifted from boasting to damage control. The core of his base, however, will likely remain unfazed, continuing to support him despite the obvious failures and missteps. The blind loyalty, fueled by years of carefully crafted propaganda, remains a powerful force, it seems. All Trump had to do was show up, and, according to those closest to him, he didn’t.
The cost of this spectacle for the American taxpayer is also a point of frustration. The expenses of flying “The Beast,” the presidential limousine, alone are staggering, and likely dwarfs what many Americans earn in a year. The summit was a distraction. A very costly one, that achieved absolutely nothing of any substance. The former president’s team’s confusion with their own failure to gain anything seems to be compounded by the fact that Trump’s supporters continue to turn a blind eye to the obvious failures, including those that could significantly impact their lives.
The outcome of the summit has raised questions about the very nature of Trump’s relationship with Putin. Some have suggested that the former president is beholden to the Russian leader. In the end, Putin made his demands and Trump, apparently, offered nothing to counter them. The reports of “pee-pee tapes,” while unconfirmed, add another layer of intrigue, fueling speculation about Putin’s leverage over Trump. The failure of the summit, and the ensuing fallout, served as a stark reminder that Trump’s understanding of foreign policy, or lack thereof, remains a significant vulnerability. It was a meeting where the former president was outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and ultimately, humiliated on the global stage.