On recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Belarus, US President Donald Trump asserted that Putin has regained respect for America following Trump’s return to the presidency. During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump described Putin’s recent praise for him as a sign of restoring America’s international standing, attributing the shift to his leadership and the improved reputation of the United States under his administration. ‘He respects our country again. He didn’t respect it a year ago, I can tell you that,’ Trump said, citing Putin’s comments as evidence of the change. Trump also claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un now respect the U.S., contrasting the situation with the previous administration.
Trump’s comments come after a recent visit to Belarus, where Putin praised him for his leadership and overcoming challenges, including an assassination attempt last year. He described Trump as a ‘courageous man’ and expressed belief that Trump has been sincerely seeking to help end the Ukraine conflict. Trump emphasized that the previous administration’s policies had damaged America’s global reputation, and he argued that conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza would not have erupted under his leadership. This claim is part of a broader narrative that Trump has been working to rebuild the United States’ image on the global stage since his return to the White House in January. As part of his efforts, Trump has re-established direct communication with Moscow, which had been cut off during the Biden administration, having held five phone calls with Putin since taking office.