# Why is Trump now opposing Putin, when for years he bowed down to him? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 14, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856 "2025-07-14T18:08:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/41 "2025-07-15T05:01:58Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I think the simplest explanation is that Putin didn’t have anything on Trump; Trump liked him because he was envious of Putin. Trump is also very stupid and believed the bullshit that Putin told him + Putin financed a lot of right wing propaganda in the US. Trump is stupid + media bubble + want to be Putin = go along with what Putin wants. Trump thinks he is Kuwabatake Sanjuro, playing both sides against each other while taking the middle, but he’s actually Harry Fabian, continually failing forward. Or he would be if he watched anything other than beauty pageants and Fox & Friends. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/42 "2025-07-15T05:23:40Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Trump thinks he is Kuwabatake Sanjuro, Damn, that was a deep cut. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/43 "2025-07-15T05:56:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I mean if 60% of them want to be in Russia 🙄, fair is fair. 60% of those who lived there in 2014, or including those who’ve [been] moved in since? In any case, the Russians would point out they “organised” a plebiscite right after they “liberated” Crimea, likewise Donetsk and Luhansk. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/44 "2025-07-15T10:08:57Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Makes me wonder if he offered a Presidential yacht crewed entirely by Eastern European hookers. I am interested in your offer - please send more details. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/45 "2025-07-15T10:13:54Z")
And thank you for your attention in this matter. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/46 "2025-07-15T16:33:55Z")
A strong man can’t act weak, even if its an act, because people realize the strong part is also an act. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/47 "2025-07-15T16:33:58Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Damn, that was a deep cut. I’m always on the lookout to make a Kurosawa or Leone reference. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/48 "2025-07-15T17:29:26Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’m always on the lookout to make a Kurosawa or Leone reference. At least you don’t make Hitchcock references. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/49 "2025-07-15T18:23:19Z")
Que sera, sera.. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/50 "2025-07-15T18:40:19Z")
Trump is easily manipulated by whoever spoke to him most recently. When did he last speak to Putin? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/51 "2025-07-15T20:23:40Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > At least you don’t make Hitchcock references. I’m told that I do a great Jimmy Stewart impression. [![](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/social_share_image/public/screenshots/csm-movie/rear-window-ss1.jpg) ](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sites/default/files/styles/social_share_image/public/screenshots/csm-movie/rear-window-ss1.jpg) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/52 "2025-07-15T20:44:13Z")
The Atlantic agrees with the [Putin Humiliated Him](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/07/trump-putin-russia-ukraine/683531/) theory as to why Trump is suddenly backing Ukraine: "Trump did not develop a new fondness for Ukraine or its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. He did not abruptly become a believer in the traditional transatlantic alliances prized by his predecessors as a counterweight to Moscow. Rather, Trump got insulted. By ignoring Trump’s pleas to end the war and instead ratcheting up the fighting, Putin has made Trump look like the junior partner in the relationship. " ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/53 "2025-07-15T21:01:59Z")
When trying to figure out why Trump does something I’ve found that I’m batting 1,000 if every answer is “ego.” He is driven only by his ego. Putin knew how to stroke his ego. But now Putin is making him look bad which hurts his ego. It’s always ego. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/54 "2025-07-15T21:32:23Z")
Melania was born in Yugoslavia and raised under Communism. She knows the cruelty of Russia. She has _a little influence_ with her husband. But Trump will generally do whatever he wants. He’s frustrated that Putin tells him one thing and then bombs Ukraine. > **[Ukrainians hail Melania Trump after president’s change of tack over Russia](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/15/ukrainians-hail-melania-trump-for-challenging-husbands-faith-in-putin)** > > US first lady celebrated as ‘Agent Melania’ after Donald Trump suggested she played a part in altering his view ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/55 "2025-07-15T21:36:35Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > I thought of this, too. But what else does Trump value, except money? Comedy central used to do Roasts of celebrities where comedians would show up and make fun of the celebrity. Trump did a Roast in 2011. My understanding is that he told the producers they could make fun of him for anything they wanted, except nobody was allowed to claim he wasn’t actually a billionaire. So the comedians could make fun of him for anything else they wanted, but nobody was allowed to claim he had less than a billion dollars. Trump does value money, but I think money is a proxy for ego. Trump has a very fragile ego and uses money to prop his ego up. People like Trump can’t stand being ridiculed. It would need to be investigated, but maybe Zelenky offered Trump mineral rights in Ukraine. Maybe other NATO nations offered him a few billion dollars in business deals. Putin meanwhile is having to raid the oligarchs who surround him to pay the bills. Maybe in Trump’s mind he sees how Putin’s assets have mostly been frozen and Putin is now having to rob his oligarch friends, meanwhile Zelensky is possibly offering Trump billions in mineral deals and maybe the rest of NATO is too. Also in Michael Cohen’s book, Cohen said that Trump really admired Putin because Trump felt that Putin was the world’s first trillionaire. Maybe that illusion has been shattered since three and a half years of war have basically bankrupted Putin. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/56 "2025-07-15T22:00:38Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Comedy central used to do Roasts of celebrities where comedians would show up and make fun of the celebrity. Trump did a Roast in 2011. My understanding is that he told the producers they could make fun of him for anything they wanted, except nobody was allowed to claim he wasn’t actually a billionaire. So the comedians could make fun of him for anything else they wanted, but nobody was allowed to claim he had less than a billion dollars. > > Trump does value money, but I think money is a proxy for ego. Trump has a very fragile ego and uses money to prop his ego up. People like Trump can’t stand being ridiculed. Specifically it was ok to joke about him wanted to have sex with his daughter but not about how much he is worth. 100% agree it’s still all about ego. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/57 "2025-07-15T22:01:50Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Specifically it was ok to joke about him wanted to have sex with his daughter but not about how much he is worth. So it was ok to joke about the truth, but not about the lies? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/58 "2025-07-16T00:05:41Z")
> [@Toxgoddess](#): > > By ignoring Trump’s pleas to end the war and instead ratcheting up the fighting, Putin has made Trump look like the junior partner in the relationship. " > [@Loach](#): > > When trying to figure out why Trump does something I’ve found that I’m batting 1,000 if every answer is “ego.” I’m gonna “Plus One” to these two. Wait… Does that make sense? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/59 "2025-07-16T12:31:44Z")
Well, Russia said no, so what will trump do now? ### Putin Rejects Trump’s Ultimatum, Vows To Fight On Until West Bends To Russia’s Terms ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2025, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856/60 "2025-07-17T05:52:37Z")
The good news about Trump being a narcissist is that Putin is a narcissist too. Which hopefully should make the two of them unable to stand each other. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-trump-now-opposing-putin-when-for-years-he-bowed-down-to-him/1020856.md?page=4)