Putin Prayed for Trump After Assassination Attempt, Claims US Envoy

New Delhi, March 23: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a church to pray for Donald Trump following the assassination attempt on the former US president, reported Times of India, citing Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.

Speaking on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, Witkoff provided insights into the evolving relationship between Trump and Putin, as well as the potential for renewed diplomatic engagement between the United States and Russia. During the discussion, Witkoff revealed that Putin held a private prayer session after the assassination attempt at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, ahead of the US elections.

“He went to his local church, met with his priest, and prayed for the president,” Witkoff stated. “Not because Trump could become president again, but because they had a friendship.”

Witkoff further disclosed that during one of his visits to Moscow, Putin had commissioned a portrait of Trump by a leading Russian artist and asked Witkoff to personally deliver it. “It was such a gracious moment,” he recalled, adding that Trump appeared visibly touched by the gesture as reported by Times of India.

Reflecting on the broader US-Russia relationship, Witkoff spoke about Trump’s diplomatic approach toward Moscow. “President Trump signalled to President Putin that he wanted to renew their relationship and that they could work together as two great leaders to resolve this conflict,” he said, referencing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Witkoff added that he did not view Putin as inherently malicious. “It’s a complicated situation—this war and all the elements that led up to it. It’s never just one person,” he explained.

According to Witkoff, Trump had tasked him with delivering a message of engagement to Putin. “We were initiating a real and productive discussion about how to end this conflict,” he said. In response, Putin reportedly sent “all kinds of signals” back to Trump, indicating his openness to negotiations.

Witkoff suggested that Trump’s foreign policy approach differed significantly from his predecessors, asserting that it encouraged greater engagement with adversaries. “The Russians want to re-engage with us because we now have a real decision-maker,” he stated. “The world needs leadership, and we’ve got real leadership.”