Whitcoff calls Putin a 'humane person' — Republicans in uproar

White House Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff triggered a wave of outrage among Republican lawmakers by calling Vladimir Putin a "humane person" during negotiations in St. Petersburg. The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

Whitcoff addressed Putin during a televised meeting, saying that he "is also humane" and "I give you my respect," and also added praise for the Russian leader and thanks for his actions.

Republican Senator from North Carolina Tom Tillis responded immediately: "WTF, Steve? Look it up in the dictionary — what is a humane person." Tillis also urged Whitcoff to speak with Ukrainian families whose children were killed or taken to Russia. Another Republican senator, John Cornyn from Texas, wrote on X: "No. Putin is a cold-blooded murderer." Republican Congressman Don Bacon from Nebraska called what happened "yet another disgrace."

The occasion for the meeting was the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who spent more than four years in Russian detention. Trump downplayed the scandal, suggesting that Whitcoff's words could be understood in the narrow context of Hubbard's release. Vice President JD Vance took a more direct stance, noting that Whitcoff, as a diplomat, was saying something pleasant to a person who had just released an American hostage, and that his job was to go there and achieve a result. Washington stated that Moscow did not require the release of a reciprocal prisoner in exchange for Hubbard.