Donald Trump is now saying that a promise he repeated several times on the 2024 presidential campaign trail was a joke.
In an interview with TIME magazine to mark his first 100 days in office, Trump said his ambitious promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war on day 1 was “said in jest” and blamed the “fake news” media for taking his comment seriously.
“I said that figuratively, and I said that as an exaggeration, because to make a point,” Trump said when asked about the pledge.
“And you know, it gets, of course, by the fake news [unintelligible]. Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended.”
After 95 days in office, Trump is reportedly privately conceding that resolving the conflict in Ukraine will not be as easy as he previously thought.
Sources told CNN that behind the scenes, Trump frequently brings up how much Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hate each other, which he argues further complicates negotiations.
Trump’s frustration with failing to reach a deal to end the war was on full display Thursday after Putin launched his deadliest assault on the city of Kyiv since last July killing at least 12 people and injuring 90 others.
Trump issued a rare rebuke of Putin after the attack and pleaded with him to stop.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
