Fox News host Howard Kurtz delivered sharp criticism of President Donald Trump following his failed summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, marking a rare instance of direct pushback from the typically Trump-friendly network. The Media Buzz host assessed the meeting as accomplishing little despite initial optimism from the White House.
During his Sunday show on August 18, Kurtz stated that despite upbeat talk following the summit, it was clear not much was accomplished. He noted the absence of a ceasefire agreement, lack of concrete details, and the decision to bar questions from the press during what was initially billed as a news conference. The host observed that the two leaders provided only vague assurances that progress had been made without explaining specifics.
The summit, which marked Putin’s first visit to American soil in a decade, ended earlier than planned with no new sanctions imposed on Russia despite months of prior threats from Trump. Putin received a red carpet welcome upon his arrival in Alaska, a gesture that drew criticism from former Biden administration aide Meghan Hays, who argued it validated the Russian leader.
Trump responded to negative media coverage of the summit with furious posts on Truth Social on August 17, declaring that fake news violently distorts the truth when it comes to him. He insisted he had a great meeting regarding what he termed Biden’s war, referring to the conflict in Ukraine. The president maintained his position despite widespread criticism from multiple news outlets.
Kurtz acknowledged that Trump deserved credit for not overselling the results of the meeting. However, the Fox News host highlighted reports confirming Trump’s alignment with Putin’s plan, which includes costly concessions such as abandoning a ceasefire and potentially ceding Ukraine’s Donbas region. This shift in Trump’s position occurred without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation in the summit.
Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of the National Review, told Kurtz that Putin managed to move the ball slightly in his direction by postponing ceasefire discussions and convincing Trump to abandon threats of secondary sanctions. Lowry acknowledged the difficult nature of the concessions while maintaining a wait-and-see approach to the diplomatic process.
The media reaction to the Alaska session varied sharply but was largely negative, according to Kurtz’s assessment. CNN’s John King observed that Trump sought a ceasefire but left with nothing, while Putin received significant diplomatic benefits. MSNBC’s Jen Psaki declared Putin the undoubted winner of the summit, and Fox’s own Bret Baier noted the absence of questions from reporters during the joint appearance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on reports about Trump’s support for Putin’s plan, emphasizing that any agreement would require Ukrainian approval. Meanwhile, Zelensky visited the White House and expressed opposition to surrendering the Donbas region, home to more than 200,000 people. European officials echoed this sentiment, stating that only Russia could end the war.
General Wesley Clark explained to Kurtz that once Russia advances past the Donbas region, it would have a straight shot to Kyiv, potentially leaving Ukraine defenseless. This strategic concern underlies Ukrainian resistance to territorial concessions, despite a recent poll showing 38 percent of Ukrainians willing to give up some territory to end the war.
The criticism from Kurtz represents a significant moment for Fox News, which typically provides supportive coverage of Trump’s diplomatic initiatives. His assessment that “it was clear not much was accomplished” stands in contrast to the network’s usual framing of presidential summits and international negotiations.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who attended the Putin meeting, did not deny reports about the president’s change of position when questioned, effectively confirming the accuracy of media accounts. This development complicates Trump’s stated goal of ending the Ukraine conflict while maintaining relationships with both parties.
The summit’s outcome raises questions about Trump’s negotiating strategy and his ability to broker a peace deal that satisfies both Russian and Ukrainian demands. With Putin continuing to bombard Ukraine even during peace discussions, the prospects for a comprehensive agreement remain uncertain. The failed Alaska meeting demonstrates the challenges facing any diplomatic resolution to the three-year conflict that has resulted in significant casualties and territorial disputes.
