Trump says he is 'very surprised' Putin has ramped up attacks on Ukraine

[highplainsdem]

Source: Guardian

Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that was “very surprised” that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, has intensified the bombardment of Ukrainian cities despite the US president’s efforts to broker a ceasefire.

“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people and I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin”, Trump said at an airport in New Jersey. “I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people and I don’t like it at all.”

“We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities,” Trump said. “I don’t like it at all. And I’m surprised. I’m very surprised.”

Asked by a reporter what he intended to do about the renewed Russian assault on Ukraine, Trump said: “We’ll see what we’re going to do. What, am I going to tell you? You’re the fake news, aren’t you? You’re totally fake.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/25/trump-putin-russia-ukraine-attacks

---

Trump went on to complain that "something happened" to Putin: "What the hell happened to him?"

Trump: "I'm not happy with what Putin is doing. He's killing a lot of people and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time ... we're in the middle of talking and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all. I'm surprised."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-05-25T22:20:24.302Z

[Walleye]

1. "Known him a long time, gotten along with him". The US president said of the war criminal in Russia.

[2MuchNoise]

2. Damn, he's stupid!

[yourout]

3. No he isnt.

[msongs]

4. how is random blather news? nt

[MacKasey]

5. What is Trump sociopathic or pathological liar?

Sociopathic Liars:
Motivation:
Driven by a desire for personal gain, control, or manipulation.
Impact:
Their lies often cause significant harm to others, as they are not concerned with the emotional well-being of those around them.
Characteristics:
Lack of empathy, disregard for societal norms, charm and charisma to manipulate, and a tendency to be impulsive.
Relationship to Psychopathy:
Sociopathic liars are often associated with traits of psychopathy, including manipulative and deceptive behavior.

Pathological Lying:
Motivation:
May lie to impress others, avoid punishment, or to feel better about themselves; may be compulsive or due to anxiety.
Frequency:
Can be frequent and persistent, even when not necessary.
Empathy and Guilt:
May experience guilt or anxiety when caught, but often feel a need to continue lying.
Relationship to Other Behaviors:
Can be associated with other mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or personality disorders, but is not a mental disorder itself.
Consequences:
Can lead to strained relationships, difficulty maintaining jobs, and negative self-esteem.

[Tarzanrock]

6. There's some "fine" people in Nazi Germany.

I've known the Fuhrer for a long time. He's a friend of mine. “I’m not happy with what the Fuhrer is doing. He’s killing a lot of people and I don’t know what the hell happened to Hitler.” All I can say is Sieg Heil, mein Fuhrer!

[Silent Type]

7. "Who knew?" Over and over.

[ClickClack]

8. "Maybe he didn't see where I told him, 'Vladimir STOP'." (eom)

[Sessuch]

9. Trump says he "rules the world"

But not Russia. Putin rules over Trump.

[usonian]

10. He's playing both sides, IMO, a favorite ruse of his when it's not clear cut.

One can only hope that the "rock and a hard place" does him in, preferably both.



Putin is the last person to let him down. AN OLD UNDERTAKER JOKE. One lived next door to us.

[twodogsbarking]

11. But they discussed it yesterday. That's what he is really saying.

[Fla Dem]

12. He has "NO CLUE"! Putin is playing him like an out of tune violin.

Trump thinks he's the smartest man on Earth, but Putin is walking all over him.

[wolfie001]

13. He's not surprised

He's lying. Rooting for Russia while faking the "Both sides need to come together" bullshit. Flaming POS!!!!

[Tarzanrock]

14. The Turd has already phoned Putin multiple times ...

to apologize to the Russian Dictator for the remarks he made. The Turd will probably have to now raise his E.U. tariffs again next week to prove to Vlad that he really, really was "sorry" for the mispoken words he uttered about Russia and Vlad. Vlad is not happy with Krasnov-Turd.

[Sober Retiree]

15. Bulshitter in chief

More bulshit. This guy has more blood on his hands then any one in modern history. More to come I'm sure, Ukrainians, Palestinians, Americans (covid) , there's more I'm sure. Such a despicable piece of shit.AHHH

[lonely bird]

16. Two choices...

Trump is lying or he is an absolute idiot.

Both can be true and probably are.

[BidenRocks]

17. 5150

Then Supermax for fucking up the country.

[calimary]

18. It's always smart to maintain a critical eye.

There are two different “realities” operating at cross purposes here. One is actual reality. The other is the “reality” he’s built, and wants you to take seriously.

[DallasNE]

19. Putin Hasn't Changed

Putin in 2025 is the same as Putin of 2022 and 2014. Only Trump is surprised that Putin is being Putin. What Putin is doing right now was wholly predicted. Trump has played right into Putin's hands. Trump has blood on his hands by not increasing arms shipments to Ukraine and strengthening sanctions on Russia on January 20, 2025. What we are seeing instead is the consequences of Trump appeasing Putin. Talks may be viable 18 months from now but conditions are not ripe on the ground today for talks to take place. The challenge posed by Putin must be answered with strength, not appeasement.

[progree]

20. 🚨 And AGAIN Sunday night - he posted on social media - "Putin ... has gone absolutely CRAZY!"

President Donald Trump says Russian leader Vladimir Putin 'has gone absolutely CRAZY!', AP, 5/25/25

Trump made it clear he is losing patience with Vladimir Putin, leveling some of his sharpest criticism at the Russian leader as Moscow pounded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles for a third straight night.

“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote in a social media post on Sunday night. Trump said Putin is “needlessly killing a lot of people,” pointing out that “missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”

The attack was the largest aerial assault since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, according to Ukrainian officials. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured.

The U.S. president warned that if Putin wants to conquer all of Ukraine, it will “lead to the downfall of Russia!” But Trump expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well, saying that he is “doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.”
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/25/president-donald-trump-says-vladimir-putin-has-gone-crazy

Emphasis added

The remarks in the OP are what Trump told reporters earlier Sunday as he departed northern New Jersey, "He’s killing a lot of people. And I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin,”

[augyboston]

21. He's either lying or he's the dumbest person on the planet

Donnie Rotten says he's surprised at Putin's violence and brutality?!?
Either Donnie is lying through his teeth or he's the dumbest person on the planet.

Love his evasive response when asked what he's going to do about Putin. Typical tRumpian bullshit, he turns on the reporter who asked the question.

What a feckless spineless POS!

[Pachamama]

22. Either his syphillis is advancing quickly or he has grifted so much money that he doesn't care what Putin thinks

Or both….

[travelingthrulife]

23. I think Putin should throw him out a window for disrespecting him.

[republianmushroom]

24. So says the puppet, trump, of his master Putin.

[GoodRaisin]

25. Krasnov finding out he can't end wars by talking them to an end.

All the world leaders know he is a weakling who will do nothing, and stupid. He brings nothing to the table. He hasn’t got the cards. He has had zero influence on ending the destruction of Ukraine or Gaza. Putin and Netanyahu just run right over top of him. They could care less about Krasnov’s hot air. Putin is laughing in his face in front of the world.

[Shermann]

26. Anybody who really knows Putin won't be "very surprised" by anything he does. nt