Trump Turns on Putin: Sanctions Loom as Patience Runs Out

It finally seems like Donald Trump is losing patience with Vladimir Putin.

The president took to his proprietary social media venue over the weekend to lament that his Russian counterpart “has gone absolutely crazy.” The evidence Trump cited for his contention that “something has happened” to Putin, the ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian cities, is unsatisfying. As Rich noted, Putin is the only figure in this dynamic who has displayed any consistency. But the president’s frustration seems sincere. In a subsequent post, the president warned Putin that he was “playing with fire.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.

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It finally seems like Donald Trump is losing patience with Vladimir Putin.

The president took to his proprietary social media venue over the weekend to lament that his Russian counterpart “has gone absolutely crazy.” The evidence Trump cited for his contention that “something has happened” to Putin, the ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian cities, is unsatisfying. As Rich noted, Putin is the only figure in this dynamic who has displayed any consistency. But the president’s frustration seems sincere. In a subsequent post, the president warned Putin that he was “playing with fire.”

About the Author

Noah Rothman

Noah Rothman is a senior writer at National Review. His third book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence, was published by Hachette in May 2026.