MSNBC host lashes out at Trump for 'fawning' over Putin at Alaska: ‘Does not give a s**t about democracy’

'It’s so much to watch Trump stand with the person responsible for all that suffering and all that death. It’s just heinous,' Nicole Wallace said
UPDATED AUG 16, 2025
Nicole Wallace accused Trump of disregarding democratic values, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, @MSNBC/YouTube)
Nicole Wallace accused Trump of disregarding democratic values, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, @MSNBC/YouTube)

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace delivered a fiery critique of Donald Trump during her Friday broadcast, condemning the president’s high-stakes summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Speaking on 'Deadline: White House', Wallace accused Trump of disregarding democratic values and downplaying the suffering caused by Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Nicolle Wallace slams Trump over Putin summit


ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“It’s so much to watch our country’s president stand with the person responsible for all that suffering and all that death. It’s just heinous,” Nicolle Wallace said, referring to Russia’s campaign of airstrikes on civilian areas.

She described the toll of the war in stark detail, citing families who try to live “somewhat normal” lives while facing the constant threat of bombings.

“It’s indiscriminate strikes on apartments that kill not enough innocent civilians to dominate the headlines for days and days. It’s the terror. It’s the terror of sending your kid off to school because you want life to be somewhat normal. But you know that any day Russia could bomb anywhere in Ukraine,” she added. 

Wallace argued that Ukrainians had once relied on US support to defend themselves against Russia but now faced the possibility of that commitment being undermined.


ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“I mean, it’s watching them scrape and struggle to get an American president who supported them, to give them all the weapons they needed to go toe-to-toe with Russia. And to see all that potentially erased by an American president who just doesn’t give a s**t about democracy. He doesn’t care about our allies. He doesn’t care about a democratic ally's sovereignty,” she added.

After the talks, Trump summed up the summit as “extremely productive,” though he admitted no final agreement had been reached.

“Many points were agreed to, there are just a few that are left,” he told reporters. “We didn’t get there but we have a very good chance of getting there.”

Nicolle Wallace's critiques extend to Trump’s body language

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - AUGUST 15: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Alternate Crop) U.S. President Donald Trump (R) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders are meeting for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrives at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Beyond Donald Trump’s foreign policy stance, Nicolle Wallace also ridiculed his demeanor during his public appearance with Vladimir Putin.

She recalled how, during his first term, diplomats such as Bill Taylor, Marie Yovanovitch, and Fiona Hill had at least attempted to explain US-Russia relations. “They’re gone now,” she said, adding that Trump appeared visibly deferential to the Russian leader.

Wallace ridiculed Trump’s repeated physical displays toward Putin, suggesting his conduct was almost embarrassing to watch.

“I mean, it’s so embarrassing. You’re waiting for him to say, ‘He looks so nice in his suit and his abs are cut. There’s a six-pack under there if you get to see it like I (do).’ I mean, it’s disgusting,” she quipped, highlighting Trump’s repeated handshakes and touches.

 AUGUST 15: (RUSSIA OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for their summit on the war in Ukraine, at U.S. Air Base on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. Putin is having a one-day trip to Alaska. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet for their summit on the war in Ukraine, at US Air Base on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska, United States (Contributor/Getty Images)

“There’s a lot of touching,” she said. “I don’t know that we always see him touching Melania as much as he touched Putin today. The handshake and then the hand on top of the hand. I mean, everything that over nine years we’ve learned about Trump, this is as fawning as he can be with any public figure he’s ever photographed with.”

MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace slammed after on-air attack on Trump

MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace sparked a wave of backlash online after blasting President Donald Trump live on air, saying he “doesn’t give a s**t about democracy.”

One user fumed, “Nicolle Wallace is bat s**t crazy. Get this lunatic off the air already!”

Another argued, “I’m not sure if she’s aware of this, but normally, peace negotiations do include talking with the leader of the aggressor nation. What were her thoughts regarding the initial invasion under Biden, who did nothing but hand over hundreds of billions with zero accountability and zero results?”

Others dismissed MSNBC altogether, with one writing, “When someone tells me they watch MSNBC or CNN, I immediately know they are a lost cause and not worth the time of day."

Some insisted Wallace missed the point, with one user writing, “What she fails to understand is that Trump’s goal is to end the suffering without starting WWIII. How would she propose we get peace without talking to Putin?”

Another sarcastically countered Wallace’s statement, “Trump lives for, is a fearless warrior for, and our only hope for democracy. There, fixed it for you.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online. 

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