Did Putin Just Threaten Trump Again?

The Trump/Putin honeymoon phase seems to have ended. Ever since the election, Donald Trump and his work husband, Vladimir Putin, seem to be on the outs. Though Russian media seems to be ecstatic over Trump’s decision to attempt to install known Russian asset Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence, Putin and his state media stooges seem less than enthused with Trump despite the duo’s years of camaraderie. Now, a recent speech has people asking, “Did Putin just threaten Trump again?”

Recently, Donald Trump claimed he called Vladimir Putin and urged the Russian dictator not to escalate in Ukraine. A Kremlin official says the reports of the call happening at all were “pure fiction.” Russian state media showed nude photos of Donald Trump’s wife on primetime TV the day after the call took place. Shortly after, Putin’s spy chief was on Russian state media reminding Elon Musk’s Vice President and 34-time convicted felon Trump that Russia helped Trump win — and reminding him he has unspecified obligations for the man who got him into the White House.

“In his future policies, including those on the Russian track US President-elect Donald Trump will rely on the commitments to the forces that brought him to power, rather than on election pledges, Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said in an interview earlier this month. “To achieve success in the election, Donald Trump relied on certain forces to which he has corresponding obligations. As a responsible person, he will be obliged to fulfill them.” Now, it seems, Vladimir Putin is issuing veiled threats to Trump personally.

Did Putin Just Threaten Trump Again?

In a press conference Thursday, Putin brought up the “assassination attempts” against Donald Trump. Putin says he doesn’t believe Trump is safe. While Putin feigned concern, the message was just as clear as the ones Putin has been sending out via his underlings in the media — obey or die.

“Unfortunately, in the history of the United States various incidents have happened. I think [Trump] is intelligent and I hope he’s cautious and understands this,” Putin, who routinely has critics murdered, says, noting that “in my opinion, he is not safe now.”

“As far as I can imagine, the newly elected president is an intelligent and already quite experienced person. I think he will find a solution,” Putin says.

Putin has previously complained that Trump used to call him “every other week” but stopped. Though this is not as open a threat as some might expect, many factors make it clear that Putin was threatening Trump. On top of what was previously mentioned, a Kremlin official warned earlier this month that Trump could be assassinated like JFK if he attempts to end the war in Ukraine.

While we don’t know everything, something has taken a turn in Trump and Putin’s personal relationship and it is spilling into the public arena. If threats don’t humble Trump, we may soon see Russia leaking kompromat on the infinitely compromised President-elect.