In a rare and revealing phone call with the BBC, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed deep frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring he is “disappointed but not done” with the Russian leader.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump was pressed on whether he still trusted Putin. His response: “I trust almost no one.” The call, which lasted 20 minutes, came shortly after Trump announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine and threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire deal isn’t reached within 50 days.
The exclusive conversation followed discussions around a potential interview to mark one year since the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. When asked whether the near-death experience had changed him, Trump was reflective but restrained. “I don’t like to think about if it did change me,” he said. “Dwelling on it could be life-changing.”
Trump, who had just hosted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, spoke at length about his dashed hopes for diplomatic progress with Russia. “I thought we were close to a deal four different times,” he said, adding that Putin’s unpredictability has been a source of personal and geopolitical frustration.
When asked if he was finished trying to work with the Russian president, Trump responded, “I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him.” On how he would persuade Putin to end the war in Ukraine, Trump replied, “We’re working it, Gary,” referring to the BBC journalist. “We’ll have a great conversation. I’ll think we’re close to getting it done, and then he’ll knock down a building in Kyiv.”
The president also addressed his evolving stance on NATO. Once a vocal critic of the alliance—calling it “obsolete” during his first term—Trump offered a markedly different view. “No, I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that,” he said, attributing the shift to increased defense spending by member nations. He reaffirmed his belief in the alliance’s core principle of collective defense, saying, “It allows smaller countries to protect themselves from bigger ones.”
On the U.K.’s global role, Trump struck a familiar tone of admiration, calling it “a great place—you know I own property there.” He also spoke about his upcoming second state visit in September, the first of its kind for any U.S. president.
Asked what he hoped to accomplish during the visit, Trump said simply: “Have a good time and respect King Charles, because he’s a great gentleman.”
