Donald Trump has been dubbed “Putin’s puppet” after turning on a journalist who asked him a critical question about the Russian president.
The US president reacted angrily during a White House press conference on Monday.
MS NOW reporter Vaughn Hillyard told Trump he had given Putin “multiple deadlines over the last 22 months to enter into a ceasefire, but also to meet directly with Volodymyr Zelenskyy”.
“He has repeatedly ignored your demands, yet he has provided diesel fuel ... at what point does appeasement end?” he added.
But a furious Trump interrupted the journalist to bizarrely ask him: “Has he been fighting us in the war?”
The president went on: “Let me ask you this question – who are you with?”
When Hillyard said he worked for MS NOW, Trump described the organisation as “fake news”.
He said: “MS NOW gets the worst ratings in their history. Used to be MSNBC. You’re a fake network.”
Reporter: You have given Putin multiple deadlines to agree to a ceasefire, and he keeps ignoring your demands.
Trump: Has he been fighting us in the war? Who are you with?
Reporter: MS NOW.
Trump: MS NOW is fake news. MS NOW has the worst ratings in history. pic.twitter.com/Ng0Eypj0q8
Trump’s decision to attack the media rather than Putin drew an angry response online.
Trump will attack just about anyone, but he can never bring himself to criticize Putin. We all know why.
Putin’s puppet https://t.co/twXeffc9Gs
Applause in the Kremlin. What a bitter disappointment Mr. Trump has been for millions.
— Michael Tyquin (@Posthorne01) November 10, 2026Russian asset. Impeach and arrest immediately.
— Roger McCarter (@Rog311) November 9, 2026What else would you expect from a Russian president of the U.S. ?
— Doug (@Dougrv0e) November 9, 2026Putin owns Trump. https://t.co/ssBE9zXpuh
— Artem Abramov (@westandeast270) November 10, 2026Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.





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