Trump envoy's Putin praise sparks Republican backlash

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, sparked outrage by calling Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" during a meeting in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, drawing sharp criticism from journalists and members of the Republican Party. Witkoff made the remark while thanking Putin for releasing Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American imprisoned in Russia. Senator Thom Tillis called the words "embarrassing and outrageous," while CNN's Christiane Amanpour noted that Trump waived sanctions and made deals potentially worth billions to Russia, which critics say undermines U.S. support for Ukraine. The controversy comes amid a broader shift in the Trump administration's policy toward Russia, including dropping planned sanctions and inviting Putin to the G20 summit. Witkoff's son defended him on social media, but former Obama official Tommy Vietor condemned the praise as "humiliating" given ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians.