In early 2017, American intelligence agencies concluded that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia orchestrated a campaign to undermine the integrity of the U.S. presidential election. The assessment indicated that Putin aimed to erode American confidence in its electoral process and to challenge a U.S.-led "liberal world order," which Russia perceives as a threat. To achieve this, the intelligence found that Russia sought to assist Donald J. Trump in winning the election.
Eight years later, Trump, while meeting with Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, dismissed the notion of Russian interference, labeling it a "phony witch hunt" and positioning himself and Putin as victims of this narrative. He expressed a sense of shared interests with Putin, particularly against perceived adversaries such as Democratic lawmakers and European leaders.
The relationship between Trump and Putin has been the subject of extensive scrutiny by U.S. government investigations and media reports, revealing various theories regarding Trump's favorable view of the Russian leader. Despite the lack of a singular explanation, Trump's recent actions in office have largely aligned with Kremlin interests, raising concerns about the implications for U.S. foreign policy.
Susan Miller, former head of counterintelligence at the CIA and leader of the 2017 intelligence assessment, suggested that Trump's admiration for Putin stems from "autocrat envy," as Trump appears to desire similar control over the U.S. government.
Trump has accused Zelensky of instigating the war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties. He has also ceased sharing critical intelligence with Ukraine and reduced American foreign aid programs that oppose Russian influence.
While Trump claims his actions are aimed at facilitating negotiations to end the war, he has pressured Zelensky for concessions while being less demanding of Putin. Recently, Trump threatened economic sanctions against Russia but later defended Putin's military actions as indicative of a desire for peace.
Experts have noted that the current situation reflects a significant shift in the U.S.-led international order, which Putin has long sought to dismantle. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the Trump administration's policies, stating they align with Russian interests.
In a recent statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov presented a revisionist view of history, attributing major global conflicts to European nations rather than the U.S. Miller emphasized that the intelligence community was clear about Russia's intentions to disrupt the 2016 election, aiming to create chaos and undermine democratic processes.
Despite thorough investigations, including one led by John Durham, which found no bias in the intelligence assessment, Trump's grievances regarding the "Russia hoax" have persisted, leading him to view Putin as an ally against shared adversaries.
During their first meeting in 2017, Putin disparaged Ukraine, asserting Russia's right to influence the country. Trump's lack of pushback during this meeting raised concerns among his aides. The subsequent impeachment of Trump in 2019, related to his dealings with Zelensky, further polarized his views on Ukraine and intensified Republican opposition to U.S. support for the country.
As Trump has returned to power, the alignment of views between his administration and the Kremlin has become increasingly evident, with officials echoing Russian narratives regarding the conflict in Ukraine.