Fox News chief political analyst: Trump “had almost a man crush on Vladimir Putin”

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

From the September 24, 2025 edition of Fox News' Special Report

BRIT HUME (FOX NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST): At the same time, though, Bret, I think it's worth noting that what he is talking about happening now, apart from selling weapons through NATO, which cost the United States nothing and might even make money to the United States, is not anything new here. There has been talk of new sanctions on Russia. There has been talk about kicking them out of the international banking system, secondary sanctions against China, perhaps. There are some against India, but, beyond that, the president doesn't really promise to do anything. He has just changed his tune about the possible outcome of the war.

BRET BAIER (FOX NEWS ANCHOR): And changed his tune about Vladimir Putin who, is it fair to say, Brit, you think kind of embarrassed President Trump because he went so far to try to get a diplomatic deal and then those attacks escalated exponentially from Alaska on. 

HUME: That is exactly right, Bret. I mean, I think he had almost a man crush on Vladimir Putin and his affinity for him, which I thought was peculiar to start with, went on for years and lasted well into this administration and up right into the meeting up in Alaska. In which he greeted him quite warmly and called him by his first name and all the rest of it. But I think he is soured on him now. And I think these recent attacks on, not attacks but incursions into NATO countries has further soured him. And so I think that the relation -- the friendship there, if there really ever was one is over. And it certainly could change the course of all of this, but, bear in mind, you know, the president has really kind of left it up to Europe for the next steps, you know, he won't impose any new sanctions and so on unless Europe goes first. And he sort of at the end of his comment on Truth Social, which was quite notable, he said good luck to everybody. So, it's not entirely very much has changed.