Trump sparks outrage after making US troops do ‘humiliating act’ for Putin
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Russia
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Kremlin Press Service / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Russia
The world watched on as United States president Donald Trump and Russian president, Vladimir Putin, met for the first time in more than six years last Friday (15 August).
Kicking off the Trump-Putin summit, the two world leaders greeted each other with a handshake after disembarking from their planes at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base in Anchorage, Alaska, ahead of their talks about potentially bringing about a ceasefire to devastating three-and-a-half-year-long war taking place in Ukraine.
A red carpet had been laid out for Putin, who has been accused of committing several war crimes according to the International Criminal Court, with Trump even seen smiling at him as he approached.
After their meeting, both Trump and Putin described the summit as productive.
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People have been quick to rush to social media to share their thoughts on the whole situation, namely voicing outrage over a 'humiliating act' Trump made US troops for Putin.
American soldiers could be seen kneeling at the end of the staircase wheeled out for the Russian leader's from his presidential plane prompting one Instagram user to hit out: "Humiliating for the US Military."
"Our country is humiliated. Holy s**t," agreed a second while a third chimed in: "Absolutely humiliating."
A fourth then quipped: "How degrading."
"This is such a level of grotesque," declared a fifth.
Make Kneeling Great Again pic.twitter.com/dqtZLxKhBK
— Mustafa Nayyem (@mefimus) August 15, 2025
A sixth lamented: "Tragic the level he’s brought this country to."
"Having our soldiers kneel for Putin is so f**king f**ked," commiserated another.
After their meeting, Trump and Putin announced that no deal had been reached, with the word 'ceasefire' not at all mentioned by either party. Despite this, Trump insisted the two sides had made 'some great progress'.
"We had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to, there are just a very few that are left," Trump later said in a news conference. "We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there."
Putin also praised Trump for the 'friendly' meeting, and for 'understanding that Russia has its own national interests'.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House to meet with the 79-year-old Republican today (18 August).
He will be accompanied by several European leaders, including European Commission president President Ursula von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned that 'both sides will have to make concessions' in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Tyla has reached out to the White House for a comment.