Trump ‘Not Entirely Safe’ After Surviving Assassination Attempts, Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s safety, noting that Trump remains at risk following multiple assassination attempts during his successful 2024 presidential campaign.

“Uncivilized means were employed against Trump, absolutely uncivilized, including attempts on his life, more than once — incidentally, I believe he is still not entirely safe,” Putin, 72, told reporters.

He praised Trump for prevailing in the election despite these challenges, calling the efforts to harm him “absolutely uncivilized.”

Assassination Attempts Detailed

Trump survived two high-profile assassination attempts in the months leading up to the November 5 election. On July 13, he was grazed in the ear by a bullet fired by Thomas Matthew Crooks during an outdoor rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Two months later, on September 15, Ryan Routh was apprehended at Trump’s Florida golf course. Routh, armed with a rifle, had been hiding in bushes near where Trump was golfing.

Trump and the Ukraine Conflict

Putin also touched on the future of U.S.-Russia relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He expressed optimism that Trump might “discover a solution” to the conflict, referencing Trump’s resilience in reclaiming the White House as evidence of his problem-solving abilities. However, Putin did not provide specifics on what such a solution might entail.

Trump, for his part, has been relatively quiet about his plans for addressing the nearly three-year-old Ukraine war. On Wednesday, he announced the appointment of retired Gen. Keith Kellogg as Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy.

“I am very pleased to nominate General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia,”

Trump said in a statement. “Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!”

Kellogg’s Vision for Peace

Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general and longtime Trump adviser, has proposed leveraging military aid to Ukraine as a tool to broker peace talks with Russia.

In an April research paper, he outlined a strategy involving sustained U.S. military support to ensure Ukraine’s defense while pressuring Kyiv to negotiate.

“Future American military aid, however, will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia,” Kellogg wrote. He emphasized that while military assistance would continue, the ultimate goal is a cease-fire and a lasting settlement to prevent further aggression.

With Kellogg at the helm of U.S. efforts in the region, the Trump administration appears poised to pursue a resolution to one of the world’s most pressing conflicts.