Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning on Thursday, expressing concerns for President-elect Donald Trump’s safety ahead of his January inauguration. Speaking during a press conference in Kazakhstan following the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Summit, Putin criticized what he described as extreme and unethical measures used against Trump during the 2024 election campaign.
“What was most striking … was not even that absolutely uncivilized means of struggle were used against Trump, absolutely uncivilized, up to and including attempted murder, and more than once,” Putin claimed. “By the way, in my opinion, he is not safe now.”
Putin took aim at the treatment of Trump and his family, condemning political attacks as a reflection of the moral decline in the United States.
“The biggest thing for me was that while attacking [Trump] as part of the election campaign, they not only subjected him to humiliating, unfounded judicial proceedings but also bashed his family, his children too. Even common thugs don’t do that here,” Putin said.
Drawing comparisons to criminal behavior, Putin argued that such tactics were beyond the pale, even by gangster standards.
“It’s men that fight with each other. But these people did target [the family]. It’s just vile, another clear sign of the moral decline of the current U.S. political system,” he added.
Trump reportedly survived two assassination attempts in 2024. In July, a gunman allegedly came close to attacking him during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Another attempt was reportedly thwarted in September when Secret Service agents intercepted an armed individual on Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course.
As Trump prepares to take office, concerns over his safety remain high, with heightened security measures expected to continue through the inauguration and beyond.
