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Donald Trump responds after being asked whether he’d call Putin a 'dictator' and people are confused

Home> News> Politics

Published 11:54 25 Feb 2025 GMT

Donald Trump responds after being asked whether he’d call Putin a 'dictator' and people are confused

The Republican leader's latest comments have left many Americans stumped

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

Asked by press this week if he'd describe Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a 'dictator', US President Donald Trump appeared to clam up.

"I don't use those words lightly," he replied following an awkward pause. "I think that we're gonna see how it all works out.

"Let's see what happens. I think that we have a chance of a really good settlement between various countries."

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The 78-year-old Republican front-man continued: "And, you know, you're talking about Europe, and you're talking about Ukraine as part of that whole situation. The other side has a lot of support, also.

"So, let's see how it all works out. It might work out.

"Look, you can never make up lives. One thing you can make up, the money, but you can't make up the lives."

Trump's latest comments have rubbed a number of Americans up the wrong way.

Thousands of social media users have since pointed out that the the controversial politician seemingly had no qualms in branding Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a 'dictator' last week.

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Speaking in Florida on 19 February - as per the BBC - Trump alleged that the only thing Zelensky 'was really good at was playing Joe Biden like a fiddle'.

His comments came after the Ukrainian leader reacted to conversations between the US and Russia, from which Kyiv was excluded.

Zelensky, 47, claimed at the time that the US President was 'living in a disinformation space'.

In response, Trump initially shared a post on his own social media page Truth Social, accusing the Ukrainian of doing 'a terrible job, his country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died'.

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In a speech made later that day, he branded Zelensky a 'dictator', adding: "He refuses to have elections. He's low in the real Ukrainian polls.

"How can you be high with every city being demolished?"

Trump responded to Zelensky's comments (Mert Gokhankoc/ dia images via Getty Images)
Trump responded to Zelensky's comments (Mert Gokhankoc/ dia images via Getty Images)

Trump added at the time that the US government was 'successfully negotiating an end to the war with Russia'.

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As we say, however, the father-of-five's hesitation to use similar language to describe 72-year-old Putin, hasn't gone a miss with thousands of Americans.

Responding to a clip - shared by Daily Mail - of Trump's latest comments on Instagram, one pointed out the contradiction.

"He used those words pretty lightly with Zelensky, what a clown," they penned.

Another questioned: "But he called Zelenskyy [sic] a dictator?"

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"You do use those words, just a week ago about Zelensky. People didn’t vote for your lies," a third hit out.

"Yet he called Zelenskyy [sic] a dictator a week ago…" another added.

A fifth commented: "Doesn’t use them light. Except for last week… LOL. What a joke"

"Used it lightly about Zelensky," another continued.

Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Contributor/Getty Images

Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News, World News

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

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@rhiannaBjourno

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