U.S. President Donald Trump shared that First Lady Melania Trump played a significant role in shaping his views on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking during a meeting at the White House, Trump said Melania offered a blunt critique of his earlier views on the Kremlin leader.
“My conversations with Putin are always very pleasant,” Trump told reporters while seated next to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “I say, isn’t that a very lovely conversation? And then the missiles go off that night.”
A Stern Reminder at Home
Trump revealed that after one such call with Putin, he returned home and told Melania about the exchange. Her response was scathing:
“She said, ‘Really? Another city was just hit.’”
Melania, who was born in Slovenia—formerly part of Yugoslavia—has a unique perspective on European conflict and security. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she publicly described the images coming out of the country as “heartbreaking and horrific,” and urged donations to relief organizations like the Red Cross.
Trump Stops Short of Calling Putin an Assassin
While Trump refrained from labeling Putin “an assassin,” he admitted the Russian leader was “a tough guy” who “has fooled a lot of people over the years.”
Trump’s comments come as he confirmed the U.S. will provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missile defense systems, with European allies—including Germany—footing the bill. The newly pledged batteries, which Trump said will arrive “within days,” are expected to significantly enhance Ukraine’s defenses against ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the assistance, stating,
“I am grateful to President Trump for his readiness to support the protection of our people’s lives.”
‘Agent Melania Trumpenko’ Trends in Ukraine
Trump’s revelations have sparked a wave of admiration for Melania on Ukrainian social media. A widely shared meme rebranded the First Lady as “Agent Melania Trumpenko”, showing her wearing a blazer emblazoned with Ukraine’s trident emblem.
Ukrainian publication Business noted the flood of supportive posts, with one commenter joking that Melania was “undercover at the White House,” working in Ukraine’s favor “beneath that big hat.”
Another viral image shows Melania standing behind President Trump in the Oval Office as he signs an executive order—seemingly hinting at her growing influence behind the scenes.
