Did Trump Just Slam Senator Murphy for Criticizing the Alaska Summit?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trump's remarks highlight ongoing tensions in US politics.
- Senator Murphy's critique reflects concerns over US diplomacy.
- Potential implications for the Ukraine conflict remain uncertain.
- European leaders are closely monitoring outcomes from the summit.
- Negotiations for peace are crucial in the current geopolitical landscape.
Washington, Aug 18 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has criticized Democrat Senator Chris Murphy over his remarks regarding the Alaska summit, labeling him as “very unattractive” and “lightweight,” who complicates efforts for a peace agreement.
Trump's comments followed Murphy's denunciation of the Alaska meeting, which he referred to as a “disaster” and “embarrassment for the US.”
Murphy asserted that the summit allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to achieve “everything he wanted.”
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump remarked, “The very unattractive (both inside and out!) Senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, said 'Putin got everything that he wanted.' Actually, 'nobody got anything,' too soon, but getting close.”
“Murphy is a lightweight who thinks it made the Russian President look good in coming to America. Actually, it was very hard for President Putin to do so. This war can be ended, NOW, but stupid people like Chris Murphy, John Bolton, and others make it much harder to do so,” he added.
Murphy, in his comments on NBC News, stated, “That meeting was a disaster, it was an embarrassment for the United States. It was a failure. Putin got everything he wanted. I mean, first of all, he wanted that photo-op. He wanted to be absolved of his war crimes in front of the world. He was invited to the United States. War criminals are not normally invited to the United States of America.”
Putin and Trump engaged in discussions at the Arctic Warrior Convention Centre during the early hours of Saturday (Indian time). Participating in the meeting were Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Both leaders reported progress in their three-hour talks, moving closer to resolving the Ukraine War, although no immediate ceasefire was declared.
“It's not a done deal at all,” Trump told a Fox News interviewer post-summit in Alaska. “And Ukraine has to agree. President (Volodymyr) Zelensky has to agree.”
“We had a very good meeting today, and I think a lot of points were negotiated on behalf of Ukraine,” he stated.
Following the summit, Trump on Saturday held a phone call with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to update them on his discussions with Putin in Alaska.
Trump has consistently urged Zelensky to swiftly conclude the war, proposing conditions that include Ukraine relinquishing its claim to Crimea and pledging not to join NATO.
On Sunday, he reiterated on Truth Social, “President Zelensky of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately, if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.”
“No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!)...and no going into NATO by Ukraine. Some things never change!” he wrote.
Moreover, European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Portuguese President Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, are expected to support Zelensky during his meeting with Trump.
European leaders are also wary that the White House discussions could serve as a platform for Trump to pressure Zelensky into considering the conditions that Putin laid out during their Alaska summit last week.