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Before And After Photos Of Trump’s Meeting With Putin Tells Us Everything We Need To Know

The photos say it all.

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Donald Trump walked into his first face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin looking like a man ready for history. He walked out looking broken. The photos tell the story better than any press statement ever could.

The meeting in Anchorage lasted barely three hours. No cease-fire deal. No breakthrough. Not even clarity on what the two men really discussed. Trump kept repeating “there’s no deal until there’s a deal,” while Putin smiled like a man who had already won.

Putin had already scored before the talks even began. After years of being treated as a pariah by the West, he stepped onto U.S. soil with a red carpet, American fighter jets in the sky, and even a ride in Trump’s armored Beast. He gave up nothing, made no concessions, and still left Alaska looking stronger than when he arrived.

Trump, on the other hand, showed deference at every step. He even let Putin speak first at their joint appearance, where the Russian leader lectured the world about the “root causes” of his invasion of Ukraine. Trump just smiled. No pushback, no challenge, nothing.

That’s not how a U.S. president is supposed to behave. But Trump has always admired authoritarian strongmen. He once said he prefers “the strong ones.” And on Friday, he proved it again.

The contrast in photos made it even clearer. Putin before the meeting was smiling, but calm. Afterward, he looked victorious, almost mocking. Trump before the meeting looked thrilled, like he was greeting an old friend. Afterward, he slumped, face drained, body language screaming defeat.

The online reaction was brutal.

The last moment at the podium summed it up. Putin teased that their next meeting could be in Moscow. Trump raised his eyebrows and said, “Oooh, that’s an interesting one. I don’t know, I’ll get a little heat on that one. But I could see it possibly happening.”

Featured image via X screengrab

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Terry Lawson

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Terry is an editor and political writer based in Alabama. Over the last five years, he’s worked behind the scenes as a ghostwriter for a range of companies, helping shape voices and tell stories that connect. Now at Political Tribune, he writes sharp political pieces and edits with a close eye on clarity and tone. Terry’s work is driven by strong storytelling, attention to detail, and a clear sense of purpose. He’s skilled in writing, editing, and project management — and always focused on getting the message right. You can find him on X at https://x.com/TerryNotTrump.

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