Everyone is saying the same thing as Putin and Trump share car in Alaska

When Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, for their highly anticipated summit, it wasn’t just the meeting itself that caught attention it was how they got there. After stepping off their planes and greeting each other with a handshake and a photo, the two leaders surprised many by riding together in the same car to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where the talks were held.

That moment quickly went viral, sparking a wave of reactions online. Critics argued that sharing the U.S. presidential limousine gave Putin an undeserved sense of legitimacy, especially considering Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. One account, Ukraine Battle Map, wrote that allowing Putin to be driven in the U.S. presidential Cadillac was “a disgrace to America and all of NATO.” Another, Really American, called the move “utterly despicable.”

Even within the Republican Party, opponents of Trump’s leadership expressed outrage. The group Republicans Against Trump shared their frustration, while others pointed out that under normal circumstances U.S. security would never permit such an arrangement. One user noted: “Trump’s security would have never let him ride in Putin’s car. Interesting Putin got right into the Beast.”

Images of U.S. soldiers preparing a red carpet for Putin’s arrival also stirred anger, with critics calling it a depressing sight.

On the other hand, some analysts saw a different message in the moment. BBC Russia editor Vitaliy Shevchenko suggested that Putin’s willingness to ride with Trump was symbolic a gesture meant to show trust and warmth, especially after years of hostility between Washington and Moscow. “That’s a very good opening move,” he explained, “if you want to make whoever you’re negotiating with believe you.”

Whether one sees it as a diplomatic signal or a dangerous display, the optics of Trump and Putin riding together certainly set the tone for a summit that was bound to be closely scrutinized.