Trump doesn't get Putin

Plus, your next cell phone might be more expensive |

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Charlie Sykes: Russian twist "Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after we all together win the presidency, we will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled. It will be settled. The war is going to be settled. I'll get them both. I know Zelenskyy, I know Putin. It'll be done within 24 hours, you watch." — Donald Trump, remarks at a campaign rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, July 29, 2023 Well, no. The war rages on. Trump's "diplomacy" is in shambles, and in an astonishing confession of powerlessness, Trump revealed that he doesn't understand Vladimir Putin at all, even as Putin is making it clear that he absolutely gets Trump. The result is not simply the dramatic failure of Trump's signature foreign policy campaign promise, but a cry of frustration from a man who never, ever admits that he's wrong. For years, Trump has sycophantically fawned over Putin, rationalized his crimes and parroted his talking points. To win the favor of his buddy in the Kremlin, Trump has upended decades of American foreign policy, switching sides in the United Nations to vote with Putin, insulting our NATO allies, while lavishing the Russian thug with praise for his supposed strength and brilliance and downplaying his negative qualities. (When a Fox News anchor noted that Putin was a "killer" in a 2017 interview, Trump replied: "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?") Trump was so confident in his relationship — he imagined it was a friendship — that he repeatedly promised that he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. He assumed that Putin would do him a solid. Putin had other ideas. Read Charlie Sykes' full column here.   TODAY'S QUESTION Did you buy a new phone recently to avoid future tariffs? Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff against Apple, Samsung and other smartphone makers if they don't start manufacturing them in the United States.  VOTE HERE     TRUMP'S WEEK IN REVIEW Here are some highlights of the president's actions over the last seven days: Signed an executive order aimed at speeding up the construction of domestic nuclear power plants. Presented misrepresented evidence of a "white genocide" in an unusually tense Oval Office meeting with the president of South Africa. Sought to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students as part of an escalating feud with the college, but was blocked by a judge. Hosted a dinner at a Trump-owned property in Virginia for the top investors in his meme coin cryptocurrency. Gave a meandering commencement speech at West Point that included his advice to not marry "trophy wives."   THE CHALLENGERS The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we're highlighting a person, organization or movement that's sticking up for their principles or their fellow Americans. This week's challenger is Bruce Springsteen. There's nothing Trump loves more than feuding with celebrities. So when the Boss opened his tour of England by denouncing the Trump administration as "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous," the president posted that he "ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT" on social media and threatened to investigate his political activities based on a dubious legal interpretation. Springsteen responded last week by releasing a six-track live EP, "Land of Hope and Dreams" that features the remarks and four politically themed songs. Read more. NUMBER OF THE WEEK 5.14% Bonds are like a loan where the borrower agrees to pay it back with interest. If lenders think there's a risk, they'll ask for a higher interest rate. Last week, as the House passed the budget bill that could add at least $3.8 trillion to the debt over an eight-year period, the rate for the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond went above 5.14%, the highest since October 2023. The bond market is saying: we're worried the U.S. is borrowing so much, in large part to pay for tax cuts. And as the government pays more, so do all of us: to buy a car, get a mortgage, borrow for college. You might be getting a tax cut, but everything just got a little more expensive. Learn more. — Stephanie Ruhle, host of "The 11th Hour" TOP STORIES Jessica Riedl Trump's 'big beautiful bill' will be cripplingly expensive for most Americans Jared Bernstein The megabill also scared bond markets. That's bad news for your wallet. Susan Del Percio Here's what Democrats should do about the megabill Dr. Omer Awan How RFK Jr. and the CDC are making your summer cookout riskier Ryan Teague Beckwith The 'Trump Accounts' have a dumb name. But they're a good idea anyway. Ray Brescia Trump is trying a desperate new strategy to retaliate against Harvard MORE FROM MSNBC Sunday, MSNBC Films presents the final episode of "David Frost Vs." The six-part documentary series explores the legacy of legendary host David Frost through his iconic interviews with guests from President Richard Nixon to Elton John, examining political and cultural moments of the 20th century that still resonate today. The series concludes with the historical conflict in the Middle East, featuring conversations with key leaders. Watch the final episode of "David Frost Vs" Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern on MSNBC. 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER