As the world watches closely, President Donald Trump is gearing up for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska.
The two leaders are set to discuss a potential path toward ending the nearly three-year-long conflict in Ukraine—a war that has left the region devastated.
Expert Predicts Trump’s Tough Exterior Could Waver
Former ABC News reporter Terry Moran, who was recently fired, shared his take on the upcoming meeting during an interview on CNN.
Moran suggested that Trump’s usual alpha-male persona might not hold up when facing Putin.
“Trump commands every room he enters,” Moran told CNN host Abby Phillip, “but the dynamic changes when Vladimir Putin is present.”
Reflections on Helsinki 2018
Moran recalled the 2018 Helsinki summit, the last in-person meeting between Trump and Putin, saying he witnessed Trump seeming uncharacteristically restrained.
“I was in Helsinki, and you could feel it in the room,” Moran said. “Now, I’m not suggesting Putin has some hold over him, but there’s no question Trump struggles in that presence.”
Trump Warns of Severe Consequences if Talks Fail
Despite this assessment, Trump has projected confidence ahead of the summit.
Speaking to Fox News host Bret Baier, he stated he would walk away from the talks if discussions go poorly.
The president also warned that the Kremlin could face “severe consequences” should the summit fail to produce results.
Summit Details and Absences
The meeting is taking place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky notably absent.
Trump indicated that future discussions on territorial exchanges in Ukraine would eventually involve Zelensky directly.
Moran’s Controversial Exit from ABC News
Terry Moran, who offered these insights, was dismissed from ABC News in June.
His firing followed a late-night Tweet critical of Trump and his adviser Stephen Miller, which described Miller as having “a capacity for hatred.” The post was deleted shortly afterward.
