Overview

• Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July 2024 during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, with the shooter neutralized on-site.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly prayed for Trump at his local church, describing the act as motivated by personal friendship rather than politics.
• Putin also commissioned a custom portrait of Trump by a prominent Russian artist as a goodwill gesture, which was delivered to Trump by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
• The revelation comes as Trump and Putin engage in limited Ukraine peace negotiations, including a temporary 30-day pause on attacks targeting energy infrastructure.
• Despite these personal gestures, significant strategic disagreements persist between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine regarding the ongoing conflict.