Shopping for King Crab in Anchorage and Not Much Else

 Is it piling on to remind everyone that last fall Donald Trump promised us all he would end the war in Ukraine in a single day and now, just shy of seven months into his term, there is still no end in sight? After all, to be fair, Trump said he could end it in a day, but he never said which day. It is a detail so stunningly simple it is surprising the man hasn't brought it up himself. I mean it does sound like the sort of cheap-jack excuse either he, or one of his staff of toadies would come up with. 

A couple of days ago the American President met with Russian strongman, Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, AK to hash out the details of a Ukrainian peace plan. Just to make sure there weren't any impediments to a potential, "peace in our time," deal the Ukrainians weren't invited. (Hey, ever since the Russians invaded, they've been an unreasonably hysterical bunch, especially their President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.)  

The meeting was originally scheduled to be a one on one between the two leaders. At the last minute, literally, it was announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio, real estate dealer, turned special enjoy, Steve Witkoff, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent would sit in. Some of Putin's people would also be present. The change went unexplained, although in the week leading up to the summit there had been a great deal of trepidation on the American side that Mr. Trump would emerge from a one on one with Putin wearing nothing but his boxer shorts. 

Thankfully a public depantsing didn't occur. In fact, on the surface at least, nothing happened. No agreements were reached, no ceasefire was declared (To prove it, the Russians launched a few missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian civilian targets while both men were enroute to Anchorage.) and no land swaps were proposed. In truth, the whole thing was a waste of time and money. Apparently, nothing was said that couldn't have been said over the phone. Who knows though? Maybe some good came out of the trip. During the negotiations perhaps a few low-level aides from both sides made runs to a local market to score some Alaskan king Crab for the rides home. 

Obviously, last Friday wasn't The Day Donald Trump decided to end the war. It became just the latest in an ever growing number of days he hasn't.

Others, however, have pointed out one man did accomplish something. His name was Vladimir Putin. Despite the not surprising lack of progress, the Russian imperialist kleptocrat landed at an American military base. Then he was greeted on a red carpet by the supposed, "leader of the free world," with a hearty handshake, and was able to tool around in Trump's armored limo, smiling and waving to onlookers. In many other countries he would have been immediately arrested and dumped in the local clink to await trial for crimes against humanity. One can only imagine how that tape will play on Russian TV, not to mention in NATO capitals from Ottawa to Warsaw. 

In addition, he was able to return home, knowing both his public and military understand he faced down the American President without making a single concession. He, Vladimir Putin, exuded strength while Donald Trump, the President of the United States was left mumbling, "There isn't a deal until there is a deal." On Saturday, during The Daily Beast podcast Trump biographer, Michael Wolff put it this way, "This is, you know, really, really a loss for Trump and potentially a loss for Ukraine." He summed up the meeting this way, "Trump got fucked."

Both Putin and Trump made brief statements after the summit, neither saying much. The President did give an interview later in the day to FOX News guy, Sean Hannity--probably the only, "journalist," he could trust not to ask him something along the lines of, What the hell were you thinking, you stupid son of a bitch? During the chat, Trump said, in part, "Now it is really up to President Zelenskyy to get it done." 

In other words, That's right, Mr. Roosevelt, the Japanese just sunk the American Pacific Fleet at Pear Harbor and invaded the Philippines, but don't dwell on your losses. Get over it. Call the Emperor and make peace. If you do they promise not to occupy Venice Beach.

Now that's the Donald Trump we know and loathe so much. It's also the Donald Trump, Vlad Putin has counted on time and time again. 

8-17-25