Quotes by Donald Trump on His Relationship with Vladimir Putin
#DonaldTrump 4/12/14: "We just left Moscow. ❲Putin❳ could not have been nicer. He was so nice and so everything." » #Trump 7/31/16: "I wouldn’t know ❲Putin❳ from Adam." Click To Tweet
Quotes by Donald Trump on His Relationship with Vladimir Putin
THEN
2007 - Feb 13, 2016

- Dec 19, 2007
Trump Organization (via Senate Intelligence Committee report 'Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election Volume 5: Counterintelligence Threats and Vulnerabilities'), Dec 19, 2007
Personal Correspondence

- June 18, 2013
Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow – if so, will he become my new best friend?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 19, 2013
“I want to take this opportunity to personally invite you to be my guest of honor at the Miss Universe Pageant] in Moscow on November 9th. I know you will have a great time. With best wishes…
“THE WORLD’S MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN!”
- June 26, 2013
Business Insider, Aug 19, 2020
Trump told Putin 'I'm a big fan of yours' and asked him to be the guest of honor at a Miss Universe pageant, in a series of fawning letters
- Sept 6, 2013
I am not angry at Russia (or China) because their leaders are far smarter than ours. We need real leadership, and fast,before it is too late
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2013
- Sept 12, 2013
Putin's letter is a masterpiece for Russia and a disaster for the U.S. He is lecturing to our President.Never has our Country looked to weak
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 12, 2013
“I think it makes Putin look extremely diplomatic. And you know, they talk all about his dogmatic ways and his toughness, but it actually makes him sound very reasoned and very reasoning...
“And certainly, it’s getting play all over the world. And it really makes him look like a great leader, frankly. And when he criticizes the president for using the term ‘American exceptionalism,’ if you’re in Russia, you don’t want to hear that America is exceptional.”
- Sept 12, 2013
Fox News, Sept 12, 2013
Trump: 'Embarrassing' how Putin has 'played' Obama
“We have a president who’s been out played by Putin to an extent that nobody has ever seen and we look very bad as a country and certainly he’s looking very bad…
“The editorial Putin wrote in The New York Times was amazing. It was just amazing. He said so much and he said it in a very nice way, but it wasn’t really nice at all. It was tough, about as tough as you get. Obama is having a very, very hard time competing…
“You think of the term [‘American exceptionalism‘] as being fine, but all of sudden you say, what if you’re in Germany or Japan or any one of 100 different countries? You’re not going to like that term. It’s very insulting and Putin really put it to him about that.”
- Sept 13, 2013
Mediaite, Sept 13, 2013
Donald Trump to Piers Morgan: Obama ‘Can’t Compete’ with Putin’s ‘Amazing’ Op-Ed
- Oct 3, 2013
'Larry King Live' interview
CNN (via NBC News), Aug 2, 2016
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin: Timeline of a Bad Bromance
- Oct 17, 2013
The Late Show with David Letterman, Oct. 17, 2013
Donald Trump on David Letterman 17 October, 2013
- Oct 18, 2013
MSNBC (via Deadline), Oct 18, 2013
UPDATE: Donald Trump Invites Vladimir Putin to Miss Universe Pageant Hosted By MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts
“I do have a relationship with [Putin], and I can tell you that he’s very interested in what we’re doing here today, and I’m sure he’s going to be seeing it in some form. But I do have a relationship with him.
“Look, he’s done a very good job in terms of what he represents and who he’s representing. If you look at what he’s done with Syria, if you look at so many of the different things, he has really eaten our president’s lunch. Let’s not kid ourselves. He’s done an amazing job… He’s put himself at the forefront of the world as a leader in a short period of time… I think that Putin has done an amazing job of showing certain leadership that our people have not been able to match.”
- Nov 9, 2013
Us Magazine, Jan 11, 2017
Donald Trump in Resurfaced 2013 Interview: ‘I Do Have a Relationship’ With Vladimir Putin
- Feb 10, 2014
Fox and Friends interview
Fox News (via Internet Archive), Feb. 10, 2014
Fox and Friends February 10, 2014
- March 6, 2014
The New Yorker, Feb. 26, 2018
Trump Boasted In 2014 Of Receiving Gift From Putin And Meeting His Advisers
- March 17, 2014
Wow, Putin is really taking advantage of President Obama. It is important that Obama responds with strength and determination-be smart-cool!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2014
- March 20, 2014
President Obama was able to fool the Americans by getting elected, but not able to fool Vladimir Putin. Too bad for us!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 20, 2014
- March 21, 2014
Putin has become a big hero in Russia with an all time high popularity. Obama, on the other hand, has fallen to his lowest ever numbers. SAD
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2014
- March 21, 2014
I believe Putin will continue to re-build the Russian Empire. He has zero respect for Obama or the U.S.!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2014
“[Putin has] done an amazing job of taking the mantle. And he’s taken it away from the president, and you look at what he’s doing. And so smart. When you see the riots in a country [Ukraine] because they’re hurting the Russians, okay, ‘We’ll go and take it over.’ And he really goes step by step by step, and you have to give him a lot of credit.
“Interestingly, I own the Miss Universe pageant We just left Moscow. He could not have been nicer. He was so nice and so everything. But you have to give him credit that what he’s doing for that country in terms of their world prestige is very strong.”
- April 12, 2014
Fox News interview, April 12, 2014
Buzzfeed News, Aug. 1, 2016
Trump Called Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine 'So Smart' In 2014
- April 17, 2014
America is at a great disadvantage. Putin is ex-KGB, Obama is a community organizer. Unfair.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2014
- May 27, 2014
National Press Club, May 27, 2014
NPC Luncheon with Donald Trump, chairman and president of the Trump Organization
- June 20, 2014
American Spectator (via Archive.org), June 20, 2014
A Trump Card
- March 18, 2015
UK Daily Mail, March 18, 2015
Trump launches presidential exploratory committee and pushes foreign policy bona fides: He's 'met more than 50 world leaders' and got a gift last year from Vladimir Putin
- June 18, 2015
Fox News, June 18, 2015
Exclusive: Donald Trump on what made him run for president on 'Hannity'
- July 13, 2015
Washington Post, July 16, 2018
Timeline: The odd overlap of Maria Butina, the gun-rights movement and the 2016 election
- Sept 16, 2015
Washington Post, Sept 16, 2015
Wednesday’s GOP debate transcript, annotated
- Sept 28, 2015
Talking Points Memo, Sept 28, 2015
Trump: ’60 Minutes’ Was Tougher On Me Than On Vladimir Putin! (VIDEO)
- Sept 29, 2015
.@realDonaldTrump on Putin: "I think in terms of leadership he's getting an ‘A’ and our President is not doing so well." #OReillyFactor
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 30, 2015
- Oct 6, 2015
Savage Nation (via Huffington Post), Jan 18, 2017
TRUMP: I Met Putin, 'Got Along With Him Great'
- Nov 10, 2015
Republican presidential primary debate
Newsday, Nov. 11, 2015
Republican debate: Notable quotes from the candidates, Nov. 10, 2015
- Dec 17, 2015
ABC News, Dec 17, 2015
Trump Says 'Great Honor' to Get Compliments from 'Highly Respected' Putin
“When people call you brilliant, it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia… He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader, you know unlike what we have in this country… Our country does plenty of killing also, Joe…
“I’ve always felt fine about Putin. I think that he’s a strong leader… He’s actually got a popularity within his country. They respect him as a leader.”
- Dec 18, 2015
MSNBC 'Morning Joe' interview
UPI, Dec 18, 2015
Trump praises Putin in spite of crackdown on dissent
“And, by the way, he totally denies that he kills reporters. He totally denied it.”
- Dec 20, 2015
'This Week' interview
ABC News, Dec 20, 2015
'This Week' Transcript: Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump
- Feb 13, 2016
GOP primary debate in Greenville, S.C.
Washington Post, Feb 13, 2016
The CBS News Republican debate transcript, annotated
#DonaldTrump 2/10/14: "When I went to Russia…❲Putin❳ contacted me and was so nice." » #Trump 7/27/16: "I never met Putin. I have nothing to do with Russia whatsoever." Click To Tweet
NOW
Feb 17, 2016 - 2020

Feb 17, 2016 -
March 4, 2016 -
GOP primary debate in Detroit.
New York Times, March 4, 2016
Transcript of the Republican Presidential Debate in Detroit
March 14, 2016 -
GOP primary debate in Miami.
CNN, March 4, 2016
Transcript of Republican debate in Miami, full text
March 14, 2016 -
New York Times, March 26, 2016
Transcript: Donald Trump Expounds on His Foreign Policy Views
April 28, 2016 -
'The O'Reilly Factor' interview
Fox News, April 29, 2016
Donald Trump on his foreign policy strategy
May 5, 2016 -
Fox News (via Archive.org), May 5, 2016
Special Report With Bret Baier, FOX News, May 5, 2016
May 27, 2016 -
CNN, May 27, 2016
Transcripts: THE SITUATION ROOM Aired May 27, 2016
July 21, 2016 -
New York Times, July 21, 2016
Transcript: Donald Trump on NATO, Turkey’s Coup Attempt and the World
July 27, 2016 -
CBS4 Miami interview
CBS4 News, July 27, 2016
CBS4 News Exclusive: Trump Denies Ties To Russia
“I’m not going to tell Putin what to do [about email hacking]. Why should I tell Putin what to do? He already did something today where he said don’t blame them, essentially, for your incompetence. Let me tell you, it’s not even about Russia or China or whoever it is that’s doing the hacking…
“I have nothing to do with Putin. I’ve never spoken to him. I don’t know anything about him other than he will respect me… I hope that we get along great with Putin because it would be great to have Russia with a good relationship.”
July 27, 2016 -
American Presidency Project, July 27, 2016
News Conference in Doral, Florida
“Just so you understand, [Putin] said very nice things about me, but I have no relationship with him. I don’t — I’ve never met him…
“No [I didn’t say I have a relationship with him], look, what — what do you call a relationship? I mean he treats me with great respect. I have no relationship with Putin. I don’t think I’ve ever met him. I never met him. I don’t think I’ve ever met him… Yes, I think [I’d know if I met him. So I’ve — I don’t think I’ve ever met him. I mean if he’s in the same room or something. But I don’t think so… I’ve been in Moscow. I didn’t meet him in Moscow…
“I have never spoken to him on the phone, no. I’ve speak — I’ve spoken — when we had the Miss Universe contest a number of years ago, we had Miss Universe in Moscow, in the Moscow area, he was invited. He wanted to come. He wasn’t able to come. That would have been a time when I would have met him.
“I don’t know what it means by having a relationship. I mean he was saying very good things about me, but I don’t have a relationship with him. I didn’t meet him. I haven’t spent time with him. I didn’t have dinner with him. I didn’t go hiking with him. I don’t know — and I wouldn’t know him from Adam except I see his picture and I would know what he looks like…
“When Putin goes out and tells everybody — and you talk about a relationship, but he says ‘Donald Trump is going to win’ and ‘Donald Trump is a genius’, and then I have people saying you should disavow. I said, ‘I’m going to disavow that’? … I’m not going to be mean to anybody. George, you know me pretty well. I don’t bow, OK. I don’t bow.”
July 31, 2016 -
ABC News, July 31, 2016
'This Week' Transcript: Donald Trump, Vice President Joe Biden, and Ret. Gen. John Allen
“I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Putin…
“I think when he calls me brilliant, I’ll take the compliment, OK? The fact is, look, it’s not going to get him anywhere… The fact that he calls me brilliant or whatever he calls me is going to have zero impact… it’s not going to have any impact. If he says great things about me, I’m going to say great things about him. I’ve already said, he is really very much of a leader. I mean, you can say, oh, isn’t that a terrible thing — the man has very strong control over a country. Now, it’s a very different system, and I don’t happen to like the system. But certainly, in that system, he’s been a leader, far more than our president has been a leader.”
Sept 8, 2016 -
'Commander in Chief' forum
Time, Sept 8, 2016
Read Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's Remarks at a Military Forum
Oct 9, 2016 -
Second 2016 Presidential Debate
New York Times, Oct. 10, 2016
Transcript of the Second Debate
“I don’t know Putin. He said nice things about me. If we got along well, that would be good… [I’m] no [Putin] puppet. You’re the puppet…
“[Hillary Clinton] has no idea whether it is Russia [who interfered in our election], China or anybody else… Our country has no idea… She doesn’t like Putin because Putin has outsmarted her at every step of the way. Putin has outsmarted her in Syria, he’s outsmarted her every step of the way…
“[I condemn interference in the election] by Russia or anybody else… Of course I condemn, of course I condemn – I don’t know Putin. I have no idea- … I never met Putin. This is not my best friend. But if the United States got along with Russia, it wouldn’t be so bad. Let me tell you, Putin has outsmarted her and Obama at every single step of the way… She has been outsmarted and outplayed worse than anybody I’ve ever seen in any government whatsoever…
“Our country is so outplayed by Putin.”
Oct 19, 2016 -
Third 2016 Presidential Debate
ABC News, Oct. 20, 2016
Full transcript: Third 2016 presidential debate
Oct 27, 2016 -
ABC News, Oct 27, 2016
Full Transcript: George Stephanopoulos Goes One-on-One with Donald Trump
Nov 9, 2016 -
New York Times, Jan 15, 2019
Every Time Trump Has Talked to Putin
Dec 23, 2016 -
Putin's letter said: “I hope that after you assume the position of the President of the United States of America we will be able – by acting in a constructive and pragmatic manner - to take real steps to restore the framework of bilateral cooperation in different areas as well as bring our level of collaboration on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.”
The Hill, Dec 23, 2016
Trump shares letter from Putin: 'His thoughts are so correct'
Dec 23, 2016 -
Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: "In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity." So true!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2016
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Dec 30, 2016 -
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Jan 11, 2017 -
New York Times, Jan 11, 2017
Donald Trump’s News Conference: Full Transcript and Video
Feb 4, 2017 -
The Hill, Feb 4, 2017
Watch Bill O’Reilly’s interview with President @realDonaldTrump Sunday at 4p ET during the #SuperBowl pregame show on FOX. pic.twitter.com/OcRVRK8JgR — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 4, 2017
Trump defends Putin: 'You think our country is so innocent?
Feb 7, 2017 -
I don’t know Putin, have no deals in Russia, and the haters are going crazy – yet Obama can make a deal with Iran, #1 in terror, no problem!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2017
July 8, 2017 -
Per an unnamed New York Times reporter, who said Trump argued that the Russians were falsely accused of election interference.
New York Times, Jan 15, 2019
Trump and Putin Have Met Five Times. What Was Said Is a Mystery.
July 8, 2017 -
I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election. He vehemently denied it. I've already given my opinion…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
July 19, 2017 -
New York Times, July 19, 2017
Excerpts From The Times’s Interview With Trump
Nov 11, 2017 -
New York Times, Nov 11, 2017
Trump Says Putin ‘Means It’ About Not Meddling
Nov 12, 2017 -
Associated Press, Nov 11, 2017
Trump: ‘I’m with our agencies’ on Russian election meddling
March 19, 2018 -
New York Times, March 20, 2018
Trump Congratulates Putin, but Doesn’t Mention Meddling in U.S.
July 5, 2018 -
The Hill, July 5, 2018
Trump dismisses concerns about Russia: 'Putin's fine'
“I’m meeting with President Putin on Monday… We will, of course, ask your favorite question about meddling. I will be asking that question again… Well, he may [deny meddling in the US election]. I mean, look, he may. You know, what am I going to do? He may deny it. I mean, it’s one of those things. All I can do is say, ‘Did you’ and ‘Don’t do it again.’ But he may deny it. You’ll be the first to know. Okay? …
“We have NATO, then we have the UK, and then we have Putin. And I said, Putin may be the easiest of them all…
“He’s not my enemy. And hopefully, someday, maybe he’ll be a friend.”
July 12, 2018 -
U.S. Embassy in Estonia, July 12, 2018
Remarks by President Trump at Press Conference After NATO Summit
“During today’s meeting, I addressed directly with President Putin the issue of Russian interference in our elections. I felt this was a message best delivered in person. We spent a great deal of time talking about it, and President Putin may very well want to address it, and very strongly — because he feels very strongly about it, and he has an interesting idea…
“I didn’t know the President. There was nobody to collude with…
“All I can do is ask the question [did Russia interfere in the 2016 election]. My people came to me — Dan Coats came to me and some others — they said they think it’s Russia. I have President Putin; he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be… But I have — I have confidence in both parties… I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. And what he did is an incredible offer; he offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators… I think that’s an incredible offer.”
July 16, 2018 -
Trump-Putin Helsinki Summit
White House, July 16, 2018
Remarks by President Trump and President Putin of the Russian Federation in Joint Press Conference
July 17, 2018 -
While I had a great meeting with NATO, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia. Sadly, it is not being reported that way – the Fake News is going Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2018
July 17, 2018 -
In the wake of fierce criticism of his speech the previous day
CNN, July 17, 2018
Trump, facing fury, says he misspoke with Putin
July 19, 2018 -
The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media. I look forward to our second meeting so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed, including stopping terrorism, security for Israel, nuclear……..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2018
July 20, 2018 -
CNBC, July 20, 2018
Watch CNBC's full exclusive interview with President Trump (relevant quotes start at 9:34)
“Probably he is [involved in assassinations and poisonings], yeah. Probably. I mean, I don’t — But I rely on them, it’s not in our country.”
Oct 11, 2018 -
CBS News, Oct 15, 2018
President Trump on Christine Blasey Ford, his relationships with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un and more
Jan 12, 2019 -
Hours after the Washington Post published a report stating that Trump 'has gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal details' of his talks with Putin and that there is no detailed record of Trump’s meetings with Putin over the past two years.
Politico, Jan 12, 2019
Trump: ‘I couldn’t care less’ if Putin conversation becomes public
- June 28, 2019
New York Times, June 28, 2019
Trump and Putin Share Joke About Election Meddling, Sparking New Furor
Aug 20, 2019 -
CNBC, Aug 20, 2019
Wow. Trump says he wants Russia back in G8, rewrites history by saying Russia was expelled because Putin "outsmarted" Obama. (In fact, Russia was expelled because of the illegal invasion of Ukraine.) pic.twitter.com/BWprYWtTp3 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 20, 2019
Trump renews call for Russia to join G-7 group
Oct 2, 2019 -
White House, Oct 2, 2019
Trump accuses Adam Schiff of helping the whistleblower write his complaint. He then advises reporters to ask Putin how tough he's been on Russia. pic.twitter.com/iTGChor2rv — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 2, 2019
Remarks by President Trump and President Niinistö of the Republic of Finland in Joint Press Conference
Jul 28, 2020 -
Axios, Jul 29, 2020
Exclusive: Trump never raised Russia's Taliban bounties with Putin
Aug 11, 2020 -
John Bolton, one of the dumbest people I’ve met in government and sadly, I’ve met plenty, states often that I respected, and even trusted, Vladimir Putin of Russia more than those in our Intelligence Agencies. While of course that is not true, if the first people you met from….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2020
..so called American Intelligence were Dirty Cops who have now proven to be sleazebags at the highest level like James Comey, proven liar James Clapper, & perhaps the lowest of them all, Wacko John Brennan who headed the CIA, you could perhaps understand my reluctance to embrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2020
“We’ve taken stronger action against Russia than any other country in the world, as you know. I’ll tell you, President Putin would tell you that right now. But the fact that I — the fact that I get along with Russia… I do get along with — with President Putin. But I’ve been tougher on Russia than anybody else, by far.”
Sept 4, 2020 -
White House, Sept 4, 2020
Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing | September 4, 2020
Sept 10, 2020 -
Raw Story, Sept 10, 2020
"He's a smart guy. Very smart guy. Smart. We get along" — Trump praises totalitarian dictator Kim Jong Un. He then notes that he also gets along with Putin (we've noticed). pic.twitter.com/dH11e8IAT8 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 11, 2020
Trump praises two dictators in less than one minute at Michigan rally: Putin ‘likes me — I like him’
Oct 26, 2020 -
New York Magazine, Oct 26, 2020
Trump, who has repeatedly said that foreign leaders want Biden to win because Trump is so hard on them, now makes stuff up and claims that a foreign leader told him they want Trump to win because "we don't want to deal with someone who sleeps all the time." pic.twitter.com/4S8neuLIoj — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 26, 2020
Trump Admits China, Russia, North Korea Are Rooting for Him to Beat Biden
#DonaldTrump 6/18/15: "Yes ❲I have had contact with Putin❳…I got to meet all ❲Russian❳ leaders." » #Trump 7/16/18: "I didn’t know ❲Putin❳. There was nobody to collude with." Click To Tweet