Russia and Putin · Second term · № 129
Said expelling Russia from the G8 was 'stupid,' that Putin was 'rightfully' offended, and welcomed him to the Miami G20
“But when they threw out President Putin, he was very offended by that. He was, you know, rightfully—but he was very offended by that. I venture to say you probably wouldn't be having these problems if you didn't throw him out.”
- Said
- , White House, exchange with reporters on the situation in Israel and Lebanon
- Subject
- G8 and G20 invitation
- Type
- NATO and allies
- Topic
- Foreign policy
- Era
- Second term
What happened
Asked about reports that he would invite Putin to the December 2026 G20 summit at his Doral resort in Miami, he said Putin's attendance 'would be probably very helpful,' that it had been 'a stupid thing' for Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau to expel Russia from the G8 after the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and that Putin was 'rightfully' offended. A senior administration official confirmed the same day that all G20 members, including Russia, would be invited to ministerial meetings and the leaders' summit. The Kremlin said Putin had not decided whether to attend; he had not attended a G20 in person since 2019 and faces an ICC arrest warrant. In 2025 the 28-point plan he backed had proposed inviting Russia to rejoin the G8.