US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff faced criticism Wednesday for calling Vladimir Putin a “humanitarian” despite the Russian leader’s brutal war in Ukraine.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a frequent Trump critic in recent months, reacted with astonishment. “WTF, Steve?
“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that,” Witkoff said, referring to Hubbard’s release. The Kremlin said after the meeting between Witkoff and Putin that Russia was ready in principle to rejoin three-way talks with Ukraine and the United States to end the war. Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian’,” he said in a post on X. “Well, I guess you could say for that particular purpose, for the purpose of allowing a man who was thinking he was going to be in prison for life out,” Trump said when asked about his envoy’s remarks.
US Vice President JD Vance defended Witkoff’s comments.
“I agree with Steve Witkoff saying something nice to a person who just released an American hostage,” Vance said at an event in Ohio.
