Special envoy Steve Witkoff has sparked a bipartisan backlash after he described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian” during a meeting in St. Petersburg, a comment that even drew sharp rebukes from Republican lawmakers.
The remark came as Witkoff helped secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher who had been detained in Russia for more than four years on accusations of fighting as a Ukrainian mercenary. President Trump had personally appealed to Putin for Hubbard's release, which occurred on Wednesday.
“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian,” Witkoff told Putin, according to footage from the meeting. “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”
The comment immediately drew fire on Capitol Hill. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) posted on X: “WTF, Steve?” and added, “Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian.’ What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say. You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a ‘humanitarian.’”
Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) was equally blunt, writing on X: “No. Putin is stone cold killer.” Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called the remark “another embarrassment.”
The incident comes amid a delicate diplomatic push. Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, a day after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo. According to the Associated Press, Putin agreed “in principle” to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Ukraine after November 10.
The praise for Putin has reignited concerns among some Republicans that the administration is being too conciliatory toward Moscow. Senator Tillis, who has previously warned that Putin is manipulating Trump, reiterated that worry. Meanwhile, some GOP senators have pushed back on the president's plan for a trilateral summit with Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a proposal Trump has floated as part of his broader diplomatic outreach.
The controversy also highlights the fragile nature of the negotiations. Witkoff's trip to Moscow was part of an ongoing effort to broker a ceasefire, but his rhetoric has complicated the political landscape at home. Critics argue that calling Putin a “humanitarian” undercuts the moral case against Russia's actions in Ukraine, including the abduction and killing of children.
White House officials have not publicly commented on Witkoff's remarks, but the episode is likely to fuel further scrutiny of the administration's approach to Russia. The release of Hubbard is a tangible win for the Trump team, but the diplomatic fallout from Witkoff's language may overshadow that achievement in the coming days.
