Is Trump's Envoy Teaching Putin How to Manipulate Him?

This is beyond brazen. Reports reveal that Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for Donald Trump and a close associate, was caught on tape advising Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Vladimir Putin, on the exact language to use when trying to manipulate Trump into accepting a Russian-friendly peace plan for Ukraine. Witkoff even suggested acknowledging Trump as a "man of peace" and highlighted the importance of a personal call to Trump about the Gaza ceasefire – all before broaching the supposed peace proposal.

This isn't negotiation; it's a masterclass in leveraging personal vanity for geopolitical gain. Witkoff, who has known Trump for over 40 years and helped broker the Gaza ceasefire, essentially handed Putin's regime a playbook on how to exploit the former president's ego. He even hinted at concessions Ukraine would have to make, like ceding territory, which were then presented as Trump's own "peace plan." The fact that Trump defended Witkoff, calling it "standard negotiation," is frankly chilling. It suggests a willingness to bend to whatever appears to be a deal, regardless of the cost to our allies or American values.

We are supposed to trust that our leaders are negotiating for America's best interests, not lining the pockets of dictators or sacrificing sovereign nations for personal flattery. This incident raises serious questions about who is truly in charge and what deals are being cut behind closed doors. Are you okay with a foreign policy supposedly being guided by Trump's personal insecurities and a foreign adversary's tailored compliments?