Putin praises Trump as “smart and experienced” but warns he’s “not safe”–but what does he mean?

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking to the media after the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (Mikhail Tereshchenko, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin heaped praise on President-elect Donald Trump during a press conference at a security summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, calling him “smart and experienced” while warning that Trump remains “not safe.”

Putin pointed to past assassination attempts on Trump’s life, including a July incident at a Pennsylvania rally where Trump was wounded. “What struck me the most is not that Donald Trump was faced with uncivilized means—including assassination attempts—more than once,” Putin said, as translated by the Associated Press.

A Sobering Warning for Trump

Putin, 72, expressed concern for Trump’s safety even now. “By the way, in my view, even now he’s not safe,” the Russian leader said. “But he is a clever and cautious man; I should hope he realizes all that.”

The Russian president also decried the treatment of Trump’s family, labeling it “revolting” and claiming it was behavior beneath even Russian “bandits.” Without naming specific incidents, Putin criticized what he described as “humiliating and unfounded judicial procedures and accusations” faced by Trump and his children.

A “Talented Person” with a Bold Promise

Putin voiced confidence in Trump’s ability to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, noting Trump’s repeated pledge to resolve the conflict within 24 hours of taking office. While Trump has not detailed his plan, Putin described him as a “talented person” capable of finding a solution, especially after enduring what he called a “serious test” to return to the White House.

A Swipe at Biden

Putin contrasted his praise for Trump with criticism of President Joe Biden, accusing him of creating “additional difficulties” for the incoming administration by supporting Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles capable of striking inside Russia.

A Chilling Comparison

Putin’s comments carry weight given his own controversial history with political opponents. Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko accused Putin of ordering his assassination before dying of polonium poisoning in 2006. More recently, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a mysterious 2023 plane crash following a mutiny, and opposition leader Alexei Navalny died under suspicious circumstances earlier this year while in prison.

As Trump prepares to take office, Putin’s remarks highlight the precarious road ahead for the president-elect, with both international and domestic challenges looming large.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.