Analysis of Trump’s Recent Interview
Peter Baker said the core takeaway from Donald Trump’s recent interview was not detailed policy discussion but the fact that Vladimir Putin praised him.
Putin’s Praise and Trump’s Response
Baker explained that Trump repeatedly highlighted Putin’s public remarks, telling interviewers unprompted how pleased he was to hear Putin agree with his long-held claim that the full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine might not have occurred if Trump had still been president. That acknowledgment, Baker said, was music to Trump’s ears.
Claims About the 2020 Election
According to Baker, Trump also said Putin told him privately that the 2020 election had been rigged. Baker cautioned that this claim is difficult to verify because the conversations took place behind closed doors.
Putin’s Background and Trump’s Reactions
Baker noted that Putin — a former KGB officer who once managed foreign assets — appeared to be validating Trump’s longstanding grievances. In Baker’s assessment, Trump was responding more to that personal endorsement than to substantive policy debate.
Implications of the Exchange
The ex...