U.S. President Donald Trump is urging Americans to shift their focus away from Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting that the real threats to the country come from migrant gangs, drug lords, and criminals.
"We should be less concerned about Putin and more concerned about the migrant gangs of rapists, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental hospitals entering our country. So that we don't end up like Europe!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
His comments come amid a growing debate over U.S. support for Ukraine and the ongoing diplomatic tensions with Russia.
Clashing With Zelensky Over Putin
Trump's stance on Putin has raised eyebrows, particularly after reports surfaced of a heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their February 28 White House meeting.
According to sources, Trump reprimanded Zelensky for repeatedly criticizing the Russian leader, urging him to stop the negative rhetoric and focus on peace.
"He doesn’t need to stand there and say this and that about Putin. It’s all negative stuff. He needs to say, ‘I want to make peace. I don’t want to have any more war,’” Trump reportedly told Zelensky.
He went even further, suggesting that Zelensky’s hostile attitude toward Putin was an obstacle to peace: "You want me to say terrible things about Putin and then say, ‘Hey, Vladimir, how’s our deal going?’ That’s not how it works."
Trump insisted he was not taking sides, stating: “I want to be in the middle.”
Public Perception: Does Trump Favor Russia?
Despite Trump’s claims of neutrality, a recent CNS News/YouGov poll indicates that 46% of Americans believe he supports Russia in the conflict, while only 4% think he favors Ukraine. Another 43% say he treats both sides equally.
At the same time, 52% of Americans continue to support Ukraine, while 44% remain neutral and only 4% back Russia.
Push for a Ukraine Peace Deal
Since taking office, Trump has intensified efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. The first formal negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials since the war began took place in Saudi Arabia on February 18.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised the new U.S. administration’s willingness to pursue peace, noting that Washington’s rhetoric had shifted since Trump took office.
Trump’s tough stance on immigration remains one of his core priorities, promising a mass deportation campaign to remove undocumented migrants.
Over the past six weeks, his administration has expanded efforts to increase arrests and deportations, deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in major cities.
However, according to Reuters, the current pace of deportations lags behind the numbers recorded in President Joe Biden’s final year in office.
