Trump Faces Russian Backlash After Criticizing Putin
On May 26, 2025, President Donald Trump faced online attacks from Russian bots after publicly criticizing Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump had written on Truth Social that Putin had gone “absolutely CRAZY!” and was “needlessly killing a lot of people” in Ukraine.
Following his remarks, nearly 1,000 derogatory posts targeting Trump surfaced on the Russian social media platform VKontakte, accusing him of having dementia and calling him a “clown”. The posts, reportedly operated “in the interests of the Kremlin,” suggest that Putin may be displeased with Trump’s sudden shift in tone, despite their recent phone call which Trump described as having gone “very well”.
Kremlin Responds to Trump’s Criticism
While pro-Kremlin bots launched a smear campaign against Trump, the Russian government took a more measured approach. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s remarks as a case of “emotional overstrain,” suggesting that the U.S. president was reacting to the importance of the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump’s comments followed one of the largest Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in recent months. Despite his criticism of Putin, Trump also took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that “everything out of his mouth causes problems”.
Memorial Day Proclamation
In a separate announcement, Trump proclaimed May 26, 2025, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, honoring fallen U.S. military personnel. He called on all Americans to observe a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time, with flags flown at half-staff across the country.
May 26, 2025, underscored the complexities of Trump’s leadership, blending high-stakes diplomacy, political backlash, and national remembrance. It highlighted the administration’s ongoing efforts to navigate domestic and global challenges.