The Briefing with Jen Psaki Trump-Putin summit special coverage; Part 1
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Aug 16, 2025 Ali Velshi, an accomplished NBC News journalist and MSNBC host known for his extensive reporting from Ukraine, joins the discussion. They dive deep into the Trump-Putin summit, emphasizing its disappointing outcomes and the lack of substantive agreements. The conversation highlights the implications for U.S.-Russia relations amid ongoing tensions in Ukraine, critiques the optics and body language of the two leaders, and raises concerns about the erosion of democratic values and national security issues overlooked during the summit.
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No Substance, Strong Optics For Putin
- The summit produced no substantive public results and the brief 12-minute press availability offered no questions or details.
- Jen Psaki and guests concluded Vladimir Putin emerged as the clear winner of the optics and substance.
Summit Lacked Pre-Negotiated Deals
- Michael McFaul highlighted that normal diplomacy signs deals ahead of leaders meeting, but this summit reversed that order.
- He inferred the lack of pre-negotiated agreements likely explains the thin public outcome.
Optics Reinforced Putin's Narrative
- Ben Rhodes emphasized the optics mattered: red carpet, Beast ride, maps without Ukraine present, all empower Putin's narrative.
- He argued those visual messages normalized Putin's position and made him look like an equal to the U.S. president.