Fact Check: Trump referred to Vladimir Putin as 'not even really an enemy' at the time Russia was removed from the G8.

Fact Check: "Trump referred to Vladimir Putin as 'not even really an enemy' at the time Russia was removed from the G8."

What We Know

During a press conference at the G7 summit in Canada, President Donald Trump criticized the decision to remove Russia from the G8, calling it a “big mistake.” He argued that if Russia had remained a part of the group, the ongoing war in Ukraine might not have occurred. Trump stated, “You know, you have your enemy at the table. I don’t even consider him—he wasn’t really an enemy at that time. There was no concept” (The Daily Beast, Politico). This statement was made in the context of discussing the geopolitical landscape following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, which led to its expulsion from the G8 (Fox News).

Analysis

The claim that Trump referred to Putin as "not even really an enemy" aligns with his comments made during the G7 summit. Multiple sources confirm that Trump expressed the belief that at the time of Russia's removal from the G8, he did not view Putin as an enemy. For example, he explicitly stated, “he wasn’t really an enemy at that time” (Politico, Fox News).

However, it is important to note that Trump's assertion about the consequences of Russia's expulsion is contentious. While he suggests that keeping Putin in the G8 could have prevented the war in Ukraine, this interpretation is debated among experts and political analysts. Critics argue that Russia's aggressive actions, including the annexation of Crimea, indicated a clear adversarial stance long before its removal from the G8 (The Daily Beast).

The sources reporting on Trump's comments are generally reputable, including major news outlets like The Daily Beast, Politico, and Fox News. However, as with any political reporting, there may be inherent biases based on the outlets' editorial slants. For instance, The Daily Beast often takes a critical stance on Trump, which might influence the framing of his statements.

Conclusion

The claim that Trump referred to Vladimir Putin as "not even really an enemy" at the time Russia was removed from the G8 is True. Trump's own words during the G7 summit confirm this characterization, as he explicitly stated that he did not consider Putin an enemy at that time. While the implications of his comments regarding the geopolitical consequences of Russia's expulsion are more complex and debated, the specific phrasing attributed to Trump is accurate.

Sources

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2. Trump Whines His BFF Putin Isn't at World Leaders Summit
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