Is Trump Putin’s asset or a very smart politician?

In 2000, just after the eradication of the Soviet Union and at the beginning of China’s economic reform, the U.S. was the top trading partner of most of the world’s nations. Its trading volume was US$2000B, while China’s was US$474B. 

People’s World, Cold Peace with Russia / Cold War with China: Trump’s foreign policy agenda, February 21, 2025 By C.J. Atkins

Fast forward to 2024, and the map shifts completely. From Asia to Africa to a big chunk of Europe and almost all of South America, China has knocked the U.S. out of top spot in terms of trade ties. In 2024, America’s trading volume was $5333B but China’s was $6163B, threatening America’s supremacy.

People’s World, Cold Peace with Russia / Cold War with China: Trump’s foreign policy agenda, February 21, 2025 by C. J. Atkins

So is Trump aligning himself with Putin because Russia has “dirt of Trump” forcing him to do what Putin wants; or is Trump simply trying to pull Russia away from China – America’s real competitor.  Trump’s showdown with Zelensky in the Oval Office on 28 February 2025 was better viewing than a final of Married At First Sight.  Trump himself said at the end, “This will make great television.” I’m sure that many arguments like this happen behind closed doors but this was very public and deliberately broadcast around the whole world. There was even a TASS (Putin’s propaganda machine) journalist present.  So is Trump Putin’s agent as many now think, or is he playing political games to “Make America Great Again”?

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on 28 February 2025, with Vladimir Putin watching on. New York Post Victor Nava March 1, 2025

Is Trump Putin’s agent?   When Trump was asked about the AUKUS alliance, he asked “What’s that?’ Illustration by Joe Benke, Peter Hatcher, SMH, March 4, 2025