ABC News and CNN seemed focused on President Donald Trump rolling out a red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin when they met in Alaska on Friday.
After Trump and Putin deplaned separately, they walked on an L-shaped red carpet, met and shook hands before entering a vehicle together. Both networks took time out of their coverage to negatively frame the optics of the red carpet.
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“Just a note on the red carpet of it all. I mean, I think it’s a visual that, you know, our reporters in the region say is just rubbing Ukraine the wrong way,” CNN host Abby Phillips said. “To roll out the red carpet for a man who is wanted for war crimes against Ukraine in what might be a negotiation, is something that is not going to be received well there.”
“But I will say that Trump does this as he goes into negotiations, in part to make Putin feel welcomed, to make him feel like they are buddies again,” she continued. “And whether or not he uses that to his strategic advantage, we will find out. But it’s one that, you know, if Ukraine is our ally in this conflict, is rubbing our ally the wrong way.”
Trump also applauded Putin as the Russian president approached him on the red carpet. CNN contributor Jill Dougherty predicted there would be articles about the applause and red carpet that would boost Putin’s standing in Russia.
“[I]t’s extremely important for Putin domestically. This will play really big. I mean, the American president actually applauds,” Dougherty said. “I can hear it, you know, see the articles now, that American president applauds Putin as he arrives and rolls out the red carpet.”
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ABC News’ David Muir and Martha Raddatz also highlighted how the optics would benefit Putin.
“It’s hard to believe that this is not what Vladimir Putin at least would want at this moment to be welcomed on American soil,” Muir said.
“Exactly, David,” Raddatz replied. “And with that red carpet rolled out.”
Trump told European leaders his objective for the summit was to obtain a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, NBC News reported.
He repeatedly championed peace between Ukraine and Russia and vowed to bring an end to the war during his 2024 presidential run. Putin reportedly said he would end the conflict if Ukraine gave up vast swaths of its territory in the eastern part of the nation, European and Ukrainian officials told The Wall Street Journal on Aug.8.
The war is believed to have taken hundreds of thousands of lives on both sides.
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