Spicer Critiques Media Coverage of Trump and Putin Meeting

Sean Spicer, a former White House press secretary, expressed his dissatisfaction with how the media reported on President Donald Trump’s reception of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Alaska Summit. He particularly criticized networks like ABC News and CNN for their emphasis on the symbolism of Trump rolling out the red carpet for Putin.

Spicer pointed out that, instead of fixating on the red carpet, the media should consider that Trump also welcomed Putin from military aircraft, which included significant assets like the B-2A stealth bombers. He stated, “I was kind of blown away… This has been a problem since day one of Trump. They’re always worried about the process. ‘Oh, my god, the carpet was red.’ Who cares? If you achieve peace and stop the violence, what’s the real issue here?”

He added, “Did you see the B-2 flying overhead? It wasn’t just for show; it was a strong message: ‘Hey, buddy, if you do this again, we know how to respond.’”

CNN’s Abby Phillip commented on the red carpet’s implications, noting its unpopularity in Ukraine. She explained, “It’s visual. Our reporters say it doesn’t sit well in the region. Rolling out the red carpet for someone who is associated with war crimes isn’t well received there.”

ABC News anchors David Muir and Martha Raddatz echoed concerns that the optics favored Putin. Muir noted, “It’s hard to believe this is what we want to showcase on American soil right now.” Raddatz agreed, highlighting the significance of the red carpet being laid out for the meeting.

During Trump and Putin’s walk, a B-2 bomber was seen flying overhead alongside four F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. recently carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites utilizing B-2 bombers, which have been pivotal in military operations.

Trump has consistently advocated for resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing his commitment to this goal in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. In a recent post on Truth Social, he suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could end the conflict if Russia drops its NATO aspirations stemming from the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Before Zelensky’s upcoming visit to the White House, where he will meet with Trump and European leaders to discuss the situation, Trump stated, “President Zelensky can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants.” He added a reminder about how the conflict began, referring to past decisions regarding Crimea.