U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hand with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Near the end of his life, the late conservative Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) vehemently attacked U.S. President Donald Trump's dealings with far-right Russian President Vladimir Putin — arguing that Trump was negotiating from a position of extreme weakness. Trump, at times, criticizes Putin during his second presidency, but his tone is one of disappointment rather than outrage or intense disdain.

The New York Times' Thomas L. Friedman, in his December 4 column, calls out MAGA Republicans he considers "useful idiots" when it comes to Putin.

"I can think of no other American president who would have acted as if America's values and interests dictated that we now be a neutral arbiter between Russia and Ukraine and, on top of that, an arbiter who tries to make a profit from each side in the process — as Trump has done," the conservative columnist laments. "This is one of the most shameful episodes in American foreign policy, and the entire Republican Party is complicit in its perpetuation. I also can think of no other U.S. foreign policy leader who would have said about Putin what (envoy Steve) Witkoff said about this dictator whose political rivals often end up dead, who engages in vast corruption for himself and his cronies and who does everything he can to undermine free and fair elections in America and the West: 'I don't regard Putin as a bad guy.'"

Friedman adds, "Russian communists had a term for foreigners who held such views about their leaders: 'useful idiots.'"

Friedman not only criticizes Trump and Witkoff for their "isolationist" views, but also, Vice President JD Vance.

"You can imagine this retort from JD Vance isolationists: 'Hey, Friedman, you and your pals just want to drag America into endless wars,'" the conservative journalist argues. "Nope, sorry, you have the wrong cowboy. I have written since the first weeks of this war, and repeatedly thereafter, that it is only going to end in, at best, a 'dirty deal.' Russia is too big compared with Ukraine, and its willingness to fight on dictates that ending the war will require Ukraine to make concessions. Sad but true — and most Ukrainians will tell you the same today."

Friedman continues, "But as I wrote last month, there is a huge difference between a 'filthy deal' that maximizes Putin's interests, profits and ability to restart the war at any point of his choosing, and a 'dirty deal.'"

Thomas L. Friedman's full New York Times column is available at this link (subscription required).