The announcement was supposed to be about the World Cup, but President Trump had another bit of news he was excited to share with the reporters gathered in the Oval Office on Friday.
He had just received a symbol of honor and respect from Russia, the president said: a photo of himself and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at their recent meeting in Alaska.
Mr. Trump would have had good reason to be upset with Mr. Putin on Friday. The Russian president had continued to bombard Ukraine with airstrikes, despite Mr. Trump’s push for peace talks. In fact, Russian missiles had struck an American electronics factory in western Ukraine on Thursday. And, Russia’s top diplomat had just thrown cold water on Mr. Trump’s claim that Mr. Putin might soon meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine as a step toward ending the invasion.
But the American president was instead reveling in what he saw as a nice gesture. The photo showed the two leaders together in Alaska standing on a tarmac. As he spoke, Mr. Trump wore a red hat that said “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”
Mr. Trump said he planned to autograph the photo and send it back to Mr. Putin. He then said he hoped the Russian president would travel to the United States to attend the 2026 World Cup.
“I was just sent a picture from somebody that wants to be there very badly,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s been very respectful of me and of our country, but not so respectful of others.”
Facing the television crews gathered in front of him, Mr. Trump held up the photo of the two men together.
“I thought you would like to see it,” he said. “That’s a man named Vladimir Putin, who I believe will be coming, depending on what happens. He may be coming and he may not, depending on what happens. We have a lot of things happening over the next couple of weeks.”
Mr. Trump then said he thought Mr. Putin looked “nice” in the photo.
“I thought it was a nice picture of him. OK of me, but nice of him. So that was very nice that it was sent to me,” he said.
A reporter asked about the Russian airstrikes on the American factory.
“I’m not happy about it, and I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war,” Mr. Trump said, before claiming he had settled 10 wars, including three unspecified “prewars.” But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he said, was proving most difficult to stop.
“I’m not happy about anything about that war,” he said. “Nothing. Not happy at all. We’ll see what happens. I think over the next two weeks, we’re going to find out which way it’s going to go. And I better be very happy.”
Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.
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