Trump on calling Putin a humanitarian: "I guess you have to say" it "for that particular purpose"
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States
Asked whether he would describe Putin as Witkoff did, Trump says "I guess you have to say" it for the purpose of releasing a man who thought he would be in prison for life, then adds that he would not say anything one way or the other.
“Well, I guess you have to say for that particular purpose, for the purpose of allowing a man who was thinking he was going to be in prison for life out”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Steve Witkoff calls Putin a "humanitarian" after Russia frees Stephen Hubbard; senators from both parties object
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian in St. Petersburg on October 21, 2026, after Russia released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American held for more than four years. Republican Sens. Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, Joni Ernst and Susan Collins and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin rejected the description. Asked whether he would describe Putin the same way, President Donald Trump said the label could be used for the purpose of freeing Hubbard, but that he would not say anything one way or the other.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
CBS News report on reaction to Witkoff's remark. It quotes Trump at a White House roundtable, posts by Sens. Thom Tillis, John Cornyn and Joni Ernst and Rep. Don Bacon, Sen. Susan Collins on the campaign trail, and former ambassador William Taylor in an interview with CBS News.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
CBS News reports that Trump was asked later on October 21, during a White House roundtable on cyber crime, whether he would describe Putin the same way Witkoff did.
After the quotation
Trump added: "But I wouldn't say anything one way or the other."
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case looks at Witkoff calling Putin a humanitarian. Trump says it was something you have to say for the purpose of freeing Hubbard, but declines to take a view either way, so we labeled it mixed or conditional.
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- People and groups discussed
- Steve Witkoff
More from this case
Read the full caseJoni Ernst says Putin "is certainly no humanitarian"
“Vladimir Putin is not our friend, and he is certainly no humanitarian. His relentless attacks on innocent civilians in Ukraine show his total disregard for human life.”Read statement
William Taylor calls the description of Putin as a humanitarian "cringeworthy"
“And to call Putin a humanitarian, that's cringeworthy.”Read statement
Susan Collins says Putin is "certainly not a humanitarian"
“I would describe Putin as a warmonger, a thug. He's certainly not a humanitarian. He is the aggressor in the war against Ukraine.”Read statement
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- Trump on calling Putin a humanitarian: "I guess you have to say" it "for that particular purpose"
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The Dispute Index. "Trump on calling Putin a humanitarian: "I guess you have to say" it "for that particular purpose"". First published: 2026-10-26. Last updated: 2026-10-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/6849-asked-whether-he-would-describe-putin-as-witkoff