The controversy began after Putin told Trump during a December 29 phone call that Ukraine had launched a large-scale drone attack targeting one of his residences in Russia’s Novgorod region.

Speaking later that day at Mar-a-Lago alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump reacted angrily.

“I am very angry about the claim. This is not the right time,” he told reporters. He added: “It’s another thing to attack his house.”

Within days, Trump signalled a sharp change in tone. His most recent public comment came via Truth Social, where he reposted a New York Post editorial titled: “Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace.”

The opinion piece accused Moscow of inventing the incident to disrupt diplomacy.

The repost marked a clear departure from Trump’s earlier remarks and suggested growing scepticism toward the Kremlin narrative.

CIA assessment

According to U.S. officials, the reversal followed a briefing from CIA Director John Ratcliffe on December 31.

The assessment concluded there was no evidence that Ukrainian forces had targeted Putin’s residence.

Instead, U.S. intelligence determined that the drones were aimed at a nearby military facility that had been struck previously.

Analysts found no indication of an attempt to hit personal property, officials said.

Trump pivots on Putin after CIA briefing

I don't know how many times it's been speculated that Trump,finally , have had enough of Putin, only for a full TACO to be served shortly after.

No, it will never be over.

Here's the reason:

No. It was yet another fake and stupid narrative of the left, which for some reason (became even too prepostrous for them) and is now being quietly rowed back by lefty msm.

Trump is not nor ever was Putins "puppet", no matter how hard the irrational haters screamed he was. Glad to see the OP taking a very belated L.

It's not over.

41 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

It's not over.

Happy Holidays to you and Mr BLM

2 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

No. It was yet another fake and stupid narrative of the left, which for some reason (became even too prepostrous for them) and is now being quietly rowed back by lefty msm.

Trump is not nor ever was Putins "puppet", no matter how hard the irrational haters screamed he was. Glad to see the OP taking a very belated L.

I think you've misinterpreted the original post, SIB.

The point is Trump has, with rare exceptions, consistently sided with Putin, once calling Zelenskyy a "dictator" and an illegitimate leader because Ukraine’s 2024 elections were postponed due to wartime martial law.

In February 2025, Trump claimed that Ukraine "started" the war and suggested they could have avoided it by making a deal earlier! He also suggested that Ukraine "may be Russian someday".

In October 2025, Trump proposed that peace should be based on the "battle line wherever it is," effectively allowing Russia to keep occupied territories. 

Whether Trump's siding with the very nasty mass murderer Putin is due to his admiration for dictators or because Putin has something on him is still very much open to conjecture.

Perhaps it's both.

So, having realised Putin lied to him and the world, and having come round to the view that Putin is the obstacle to peace, the question is how long before Donald turns back once again to embrace Vladimir, like a lover prepared to forgive her partner's lies?

7 minutes ago, bannork said:

I think you've misinterpreted the original post, SIB.

The point is Trump has, with rare exceptions, consistently sided with Putin, once calling Zelenskyy a "dictator" and an illegitimate leader because Ukraine’s 2024 elections were postponed due to wartime martial law.

In February 2025, Trump claimed that Ukraine "started" the war and suggested they could have avoided it by making a deal earlier! He also suggested that Ukraine "may be Russian someday".

In October 2025, Trump proposed that peace should be based on the "battle line wherever it is," effectively allowing Russia to keep occupied territories. 

Whether Trump's siding with the very nasty mass murderer Putin is due to his admiration for dictators or because Putin has something on him is still very much open to conjecture.

Perhaps it's both.

So, having realised Putin lied to him and the world, and having come round to the view that Putin is the obstacle to peace, the question is how long before Donald turns back once again to embrace Vladimir, like a lover prepared to forgive her partner's lies?

Quote: "Republican Rep. Mike Lawler criticised Mamdani not for religion, but for his policy agenda, which includes a citywide rent freeze, free public transport and free child care. Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

"...Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

How wrong you are. Many counties practice socialism / socialist policies / e.g. socialist appraoches to health, and in most countries with great success. And these's examples of many other aspects of community life.

The American right (GOP) just can't get their small brains around the word 'socialist', much to the detriment of American citizens. Sad.

12 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Quote: "Republican Rep. Mike Lawler criticised Mamdani not for religion, but for his policy agenda, which includes a citywide rent freeze, free public transport and free child care. Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

"...Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

How wrong you are. Many counties practice socialism / socialist policies / e.g. socialist appraoches to health, and in most countries with great success. And these's examples of many other aspects of community life.

The American right (GOP) just can't get their small brains around the word 'socialist', much to the detriment of American citizens. Sad.

I think you've posted in the wrong thread, scorecard!

1 hour ago, bannork said:

I think you've posted in the wrong thread, scorecard!

I checked and yes you are correct.

regardless, my comment stands.

3 hours ago, BLMFem said:

It's not over.

You aptly compared the situation to a dance. However, a dance always involves two participants. Therefore, what happens at the hotel room after the dance isn't necessarily a result of the woman's pliability. Sometimes it's much more a result of the man's persistence . Vlad supporters are convinced that Vlad`s nuclear rocket persistence is such that no one can resist him.

25 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I checked and yes you are correct.

regardless, my comment stands.

Absolutely, what the Trump fan boys disparage as 'socialism', we Europeans regard as the bedrock of a civilised society.

Still, that's another thread, lol

I’m not professing to know anything about war , but I’m quite sure that if Putins house was attacked there would be proof of “ who done it”. Nothing is kept secret up there in the sky.

Alas you assume it was a false flag. Russia has handed over a GPS unit from one of the downed drones to the US military attaché which they say after decryption shows Putin's residence was indeed the target.

Shame there’s no emoji to show “ surprised “ or “wow”.

Could it still not be a scam, surely it could be faked? I can hardly believe Zelensky would order that at exactly that time.

I don’t believe he’s stupid.

9 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

No. It was yet another fake and stupid narrative of the left, which for some reason (became even too prepostrous for them) and is now being quietly rowed back by lefty msm.

Trump is not nor ever was Putins "puppet", no matter how hard the irrational haters screamed he was. Glad to see the OP taking a very belated L.

Stop the gaslighting.

When Putin arrives Trump orders U.S. soldiers to get on their knees and put down a red carpet. Then Trump greets him happy and smiling like a total moron.

When Zelinskyy arrives there is not even one representative of the U.S. government not even a state department mail room clerk to greet him.

7 minutes ago, geisha said:

Shame there’s no emoji to show “ surprised “ or “wow”.

Could it still not be a scam, surely it could be faked? I can hardly believe Zelensky would order that at exactly that time.

I don’t believe he’s stupid.

Maybe Zelenskyy knew nothing of it. Maybe it didn't happen. Maybe it did. Maybe what Russia has handed over is a fake or maybe it isn't. Interesting that no retaliatory strikes have happened yet.

7 hours ago, scorecard said:

Quote: "Republican Rep. Mike Lawler criticised Mamdani not for religion, but for his policy agenda, which includes a citywide rent freeze, free public transport and free child care. Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

"...Lawler argued these proposals amount to socialism and warned such systems have failed globally."

How wrong you are. Many counties practice socialism / socialist policies / e.g. socialist appraoches to health, and in most countries with great success. And these's examples of many other aspects of community life.

The American right (GOP) just can't get their small brains around the word 'socialist', much to the detriment of American citizens. Sad.

So list 10 of these countries. With so many, it should be easy.

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Stop the gaslighting.

When Putin arrives Trump orders U.S. soldiers to get on their knees and put down a red carpet. Then Trump greets him happy and smiling like a total moron.

When Zelinskyy arrives there is not even one representative of the U.S. government not even a state department mail room clerk to greet him.

Putin suited and booted and showed respect. Zelenskyy rocked up in his glad rags charged up on bugle. Its basic reciprocal respect and statesmanship. You know this.

1 minute ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Putin suited and booted and showed respect. Zelenskyy rocked up in his glad rags charged up on bugle. Its basic reciprocal respect and statesmanship. You know this.

So, according to you, the issue isn't the war, but how Trump personally was treated by Putin and Zelenskyy? After all, how do the issues raised by the first major land war (or is that Special Military Operation?) in Europe compare in importance to how much or little respect Trump was allegedly show by Putin vs. Zelenskyy? You have raised an excellent point.

13 hours ago, bannork said:

Absolutely, what the Trump fan boys disparage as 'socialism', we Europeans regard as the bedrock of a civilised society.

Still, that's another thread, lol

Civilized society LOL.

Trump capturing Madura and his wife “ captured and ex filtered” this last night might change the future . I believe this is going to provoke a storm of unrest. I have a lot of friends in Venezuela and I can’t image what they’re thinking.

23 hours ago, bannork said:

“I am very angry about the claim. This is not the right time,”

What he meant: “I am very angry about the claim. This is not the right time...to launch a decapitation strike against Putin and attempt to provoke a color revolution in Russia." That more likely what he meant.

The likely results if Putin is assassinated - "So long and thanks for all the fish..."

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Civilized society LOL.

Yes, you know, societies that don't vet 5 years of you social media use at the border, that don't react to the wholesale slaughter of school children with "thoughts and prayers, that don't require anyone to become bankrupt due to medical bills.

Hope this clarifies things!

1 hour ago, connda said:

What he meant: “I am very angry about the claim. This is not the right time...to launch a decapitation strike against Putin and attempt to provoke a color revolution in Russia." That more likely what he meant.

The likely results if Putin is assassinated - "So long and thanks for all the fish..."

Ahhh, another poster trying to interpret the drivel coming out of Trump's piehole.😁

Why not just take Donald, Vladimir of Russia, Vloeadimir of Ukraine or any European head of state meddling in the Ukraine war, with their "war counsellors"...put them in a boxing ring and let them sort out their issues in persona, and not involve their country, their military or their civilians who bear the burden of the death toll.

Putin's Russia offers the prospect of profit.

Ukraine, on the other hand, offers a bottomless pit of wasteful spending.

On this issue, at least Trump is pragmatic, setting aside ideology to serve the American people.

As a French European, I would have liked our leaders, UVDL and Macron, to have prioritised this concern.

On 1/3/2026 at 4:44 AM, dinsdale said:

Alas you assume it was a false flag. Russia has handed over a GPS unit from one of the downed drones to the US military attaché which they say after decryption shows Putin's residence was indeed the target.

So hope they target many more places that putin frequents, with a little luck they will hit the absolute jackpot.

But I wonder who will succeed putin if he perishes. Any suggestions as to the actual person and about their attitudes and objectives?

On 1/3/2026 at 11:06 AM, SunnyinBangrak said:

Putin suited and booted and showed respect. Zelenskyy rocked up in his glad rags charged up on bugle. Its basic reciprocal respect and statesmanship. You know this.

I don't buy that. Zalenski has his discussion points well organized, that's all he really needs. Perfect suit collar and tie not important.

22 hours ago, Toc-Toc said:

Putin's Russia offers the prospect of profit.

Ukraine, on the other hand, offers a bottomless pit of wasteful spending.

On this issue, at least Trump is pragmatic, setting aside ideology to serve the American people.

As a French European, I would have liked our leaders, UVDL and Macron, to have prioritised this concern.

From above: "Ukraine, on the other hand, offers a bottomless pit of wasteful spending.

On this issue, at least Trump is pragmatic, setting aside ideology to serve the American people.

Yes Ukraine has problems with corruption and yes Salensky has reduced the level of corruption and still working on it. Plenty of corruption and collusion in the USA and no doubt plenty of the funds passed to tump / the GOP for electioneering are a result of corruption and collusion.

In the USA much of the election donations given to trump are from big oil and gas. All of these companies have millions of shareholders, there must be many who aren't that pleased that the compny they have shares in donates to trump / the GOP.