Trump extends cordial greeting to Putin during Alaska summit, offering a ride in 'The Beast'
In an unprecedented move, Russian President Vladimir Putin and American President Donald Trump shared a ride in the U.S. presidential limousine, known as "The Beast," during their summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. This event marked a significant break from usual protocol, especially given the adversarial nature of U.S.-Russia relations.
The ride, lasting at least 10 minutes, provided a private conversation between the two leaders outside the presence of their aides, highlighting a moment of unusual personal diplomacy. Putin’s choice to enter "The Beast" instead of his own heavily armored vehicle was seen by some analysts as a symbolic gesture or a message of trust.
This was not the first time a Russian and American president had ridden together in the U.S. presidential limousine. In 2010, President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev rode in the Beast to have lunch. Other world leaders who have occasionally shared the limo with American presidents include French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Inviting adversaries to ride in the U.S. presidential limousine remains uncommon. During Trump's 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, aides dissuaded Trump from offering the limo ride to maintain protocol and security norms.
The summit between Trump and Putin is aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead on both sides. The negotiations are expected to be tough. As for the optics of the first interactions between the leaders, Ukrainians may find President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reception at the White House more significant.
While the meeting between Trump and Putin may seem to indicate who has the upper hand in the conflict, it's important to note that unlike Trump, President Medvedev was not accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Moreover, he was not involved in a conflict that critics have called a blatant land grab.
Russian President Putin received a red carpet welcome, a jet flyover, and the memorable ride with President Trump in "The Beast." President Zelenskyy may be invited to the next round of talks. For many, the meeting between Trump and Putin is a historic event, symbolizing diplomatic gestures or signals between leaders. Putin's beaming smile in the window of the limo as they drove off the tarmac together summed up the moment.
[1] [https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/05/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-alaska-summit/index.html] [2] [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/world/europe/trump-putin-alaska-summit.html] [3] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/trump-putin-alaska-summit-2025/] [4] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59670331] [5] [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-summit-idUSKCN24L23H]
- In light of the recent summit, where President Trump and Putin disregarded protocol by sharing a ride in "The Beast," this General-news event may be seen as a symbolic gesture or message of trust in the ongoing political landscape, reminiscent of the rode shared by Obama and Medvedev in 2010.
- Despite Putin's memorable ride in "The Beast" during the summit, Ukrainians might find President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's reception at the White House as a more significant General-news event, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and concerns about war crimes and land grabs.
