Trump warned Putin will 'play him like fool' as fears for his cognitive health soar

As Donald Trump prepares for his high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday, many foreign policy experts are voicing serious concerns. They warn that Putin may have little difficulty manipulating Trump, especially given the ongoing debate over the former president’s cognitive sharpness.

The summit comes at a delicate moment. Trump has long promised to end the war in Ukraine, but progress has been slow. His public statements about Putin have also been contradictory. On one hand, he once praised Putin as “pretty smart” for launching the invasion. On the other, he’s recently shown frustration, insisting that Putin must agree to a ceasefire or face “very severe consequences.”

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul cautioned that Trump should not allow Putin to shift the focus of the summit. “The meeting in Alaska should only be about Ukraine. Trump cannot allow Putin to expand the agenda to talk about economic collaboration, Iran, or other items,” he wrote on X.

Other critics have been more blunt. Jeff Timmer, former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, said: “Putin understands power and negotiations. Trump only blathers about his mystical ability, yet walks away from every ‘deal’ waving goodbye to the milk cow and pocketing three magic beans.”

Some argue this is simply part of a long pattern. One commentator wrote: “Trump has always been easily manipulated. Putin has played him for years.”

Still, Trump rejects claims of mental decline. His most recent medical exam, according to White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella, declared that he “exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to execute the duties of the commander-in-chief.”

For Putin, the Alaska summit is an opportunity. After years of Western isolation following the invasion of Ukraine, he now has a chance to reset relations with Washington through Trump. Critics, however, argue the meeting is risky, especially since Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky was not invited. Ian Kelly, a former U.S. ambassador, called it “a colossal mistake,” adding: “You don’t need to invite Putin onto U.S. soil to hear what we already know he wants.”

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham dismissed these concerns. He expressed confidence that Trump will negotiate from “a position of strength” and represent both Europe’s and Ukraine’s interests.

Whether Trump holds his ground or becomes vulnerable to Putin’s maneuvering will be closely watched—not just in Washington, but worldwide.