How Moscow censors Trump POTUS has ramped up criticism of Putin in recent days. You wouldn't know it from watching Russian state TV.
Since Donald Trump returned to the American presidency in January, his administration's rapprochement with Russia and hostility towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have shocked politicians and officials in both the E.U. and the U.S. But as his goal of brokering an end to Moscow's war — something he once vowed to achieve in just 24 hours — has proved more elusive than he expected, he's increasingly turned his criticism towards Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent days.
However, there’s one place these rebukes from the man with the world’s loudest microphone haven’t reached: Russia’s propaganda channels. The independent outlet Agenstvo Media compiled a list of Russian news programs and media outlets that have put out carefully censored versions of Trump's statements in recent days. Meduza shares the list in English, with some additional context.
An incomplete list of Trump's recent criticisms of Putin
On April 7, during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he was “not happy” that Russia continued to bombard Ukraine while he tried to broker a peace agreement, and that Moscow was “bombing like crazy right now.” “That’s not a good situation,” he added.
Four days later, on April 11, he wrote on social media: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people ere [sic] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.”
On April 13, after Russia launched a missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed 35 people, Trump commented: “I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing. I think, for that war to have started, is an abuse of power.”
The following day, he began referring to Putin more directly. “You have millions of people dead, millions of people dead because of three people,” Trump told journalists. “I would say three people, let's say, Putin number one. But let's say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two. And Zelenskyy. All I can do is try and stop it.”
Then, on April 24, one day after Russia launched a missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital that killed 12 people and injured 87 the U.S. president made his most emphatic statement to Putin yet. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” he wrote on social media. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE! [sic]”
Two days later, in a rambling post nearly 300 words long, Trump wrote that “there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” and that this made him think that “maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war.” He floated the idea of imposing new “banking or secondary sanctions” on Russia.
When asked by reporters the following day, April 27, what he wanted Putin to do, Trump said: "Well, I want him to stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal. We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it.”
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How did Russian state media cover (or not cover) these statements?
Russian state news outlets and TV channels have covered Trump’s comments on Ukraine and ceasefire negotiations — but only selectively.
In broadcasts on Sunday and Monday, the country’s federal TV channels edited Trump’s statements to remove any criticism of Putin. The channel Rossiya 1 reported that Kyiv was “still begging the U.S. for weapons” but was “now ready to give up its claims to Crimea.” The network then aired a clip of Trump responding to a question about whether he’d seen a shift in Zelensky’s “attitude” when the two leaders met at the Vatican on Saturday. “I see him as calmer. […] And I think he wants to make a deal,” it showed Trump saying.
Similarly, flagship state broadcaster Channel One reported that Zelensky “still has his hand out, but is no longer so categorical about Crimea.” It showed Trump’s response to a question about whether he believes Ukraine is ready to give up the Russian-occupied peninsula, to which the U.S. president replied, “I think so.” Both networks aired clips of Trump saying that Zelensky told him at the Vatican “that he needs more weapons, but he's been saying that for three years.”
Meanwhile, both channels completely omitted Trump’s appeal to Putin to “stop shooting, sit down, and sign a deal,” which he made in the same interview.
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On the latest episode of the news show Vesti Nedeli, which airs on Sundays, Trump’s April 26 post criticizing Putin was quoted, but only the parts that didn't mention Putin. Instead, the segment showed earlier comments from Trump in which he criticized Zelensky.
Trump’s April 27 statements were also censored by state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti. Like the TV channels, they focused on what Trump said about Zelensky and omitted anything he said about Putin. Both agencies noted that Trump claimed Zelensky had become “calmer” and was ready to give up Crimea. (Zelensky said last week that Ukraine “will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea.”) TASS and RIA Novosti also refrained from quoting Trump’s “Vladimir, STOP!” post earlier in the week.
In coverage of Trump’s Truth Social post threatening new sanctions against Russia, TASS only included an excerpt referring to Ukraine’s “ridiculous [request]” to “get back” Crimea. RIA Novosti also did not mention sanctions or Trump’s speculation that Putin doesn’t really want to end the war.