Trump's rapid reversals will leave Netanyahu anxious

This week Donald Trump has hit out at Vladimir Putin – and the Israeli leader could be next to feel his ire

- Bel Trew

Another Trump friendship appears to have fallen apart. After the spectacularly public showdown between Donald Trump and his “First Buddy” Elon Musk, this week Trump took aim at former frenemy Vladimir Putin. “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said of the Russian president during a lively cabinet meeting on Tuesday. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

Trump’s last (known) call with Putin was last Thursday. But angered by the (somewhat late) realisation that the Russian leader is uninterested in immediately ending his full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump has since vowed to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv. That reversed a Pentagon decision made just days earlier to stall critical munitions supplies.

Trump also said he was considering supporting a Senate bill that would impose stiff sanctions on Russia, including eye-watering 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. He hinted at further action, adding mysteriously: “We want to have a little surprise.”