Russian President Vladimir Putin at a press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, on November 28, 2024. Mr. Putin said “in his opinion” Donald Trump is not safe now
| Photo Credit: via Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday (November 28, 2024) as an experienced and intelligent politician, but said he did not believe Mr. Trump was safe after attempts on his life.

Mr. Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. In a separate incident in September, a man was charged with attempted assassination after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle at one of Mr. Trump’s Florida golf courses.

Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan after a summit, Mr. Putin said he had been shocked by the way the U.S. election campaign had unfolded.

He cited “the absolutely uncivilised methods used to battle against Mr. Trump, up to and including an assassination attempt — and more than once”.

“By the way, in my opinion, he is not safe now,” said Mr. Putin.

“Unfortunately, in the history of the United States various incidents have happened. I think he (Trump) is intelligent and I hope he’s cautious and understands this.”

Shocked at Trump criticism

Mr. Putin, who is himself heavily protected, said he had been even more shocked though by how Mr. Trump’s family and children had been criticised by political opponents during the U.S. election campaign.

He called such behaviour “revolting” and said in Russia not even “bandits” would resort to such methods.

Talking about what he described as the Biden administration’s decision to escalate the war in Ukraine by allowing Kyiv to strike Russia with Western missiles, Mr. Putin speculated that it could be a ploy to either help Mr. Trump by giving him something to roll back or a way of making his life more difficult with Russia.

Either way, Mr. Putin said he thought Mr. Trump would “find the solution” and said Moscow was ready for dialogue.