Atlantic Magazine Shatters Liberal Myth that Trump is Putin's Puppet

Newsbusters ^ | February 14, 2026 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

Most hard core liberals, especially in the media, take it as a matter of absolute faith that President Donald Trump is the puppet of Russian president Vladimir Putin. However, an article published in a very surprising source has shattered that myth.

The Atlantic magazine, yes that Democrat-loving periodical, published an article on Friday that destroyed that notion. And the two authors of the piece can't be written off as ill informed. Both Thomas Graham and Alan Cullison are members of the Council on Foreign Relations. In addition, Graham is the author of "Getting Russia Right" and Cullison was a former Moscow correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.

Their article, "Putin Didn’t Know How Good He Had It," sweeps away the sacred liberal belief that Putin somehow controls Trump. In fact, they make a strong case that it was in large part due to Trump that Putin and Russia are currently in a very bad position on the world scene.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: atlanticmagazine; belongsinbloggers; clickbait; donaldtrump; libidiotsbelievehoax; russiacollusionhoax; theystillbelieveit; trumprussiahoax; vladimirputin

[PJ-Comix]

It's impossible to overestimate how much the myth that Trump is Putin's puppet has been a core element of the liberal belief system. And now that myth has been shattered by an article published in a periodical at the center of the liberal universe... Atlantic magazine.

[ClearCase_guy]

Liberals liked the Soviet Union quite a bit. Atheist, anti-capitalism, active in the post-colonial Third World, standing up against the evils of America.

Then the USSR fell apart. The Russian people started going to church, their economy got stronger, they stopped pushing for communist revolution in the Third World — Liberals hated all of that. Russia was bad, bad, bad.

The leader of Russia? Working with the leader of the US? What a nightmare! They must be stopped! The world would end if such a partnership were allowed! Trump is bad! Putin is bad!

But now it appears that Trump is keeping Putin in check. What are Liberals to think about this? It doesn’t fit any of their mental models. Heads will explode.

[brownsfan]

“... And now that myth has been shattered by an article published in a periodical at the center of the liberal universe... Atlantic magazine.”

That’s irrelevant. Liberals are mentally damaged and have taken Trump as Putin’s puppet as a core belief. No amount of logic or information will disabuse them of that belief.

[blitz128]

The sanctions on the Russian oil companies has had a profoundly negative effect on Russian economy and by extension Russian war effort.
If Trump was in pitins pocket he would never have done that.

Talk of economic deals likely have more to do with post pitin era than anything to support pitin as many have said.

Making Europe pay is more about making Europe take responsibility than spite.

[blitz128]

The sanctions on the Russian oil companies has had a profoundly negative effect on Russian economy and by extension Russian war effort.
If Trump was in pitins pocket he would never have done that.

Talk of economic deals likely have more to do with post pitin era than anything to support pitin as many have said.

Making Europe pay is more about making Europe take responsibility than spite.

[blitz128]

True statement

[ansel12]

I’ve tried pointing this out for years, Trump talks sweety pie to Putin while pushing Russia deeper into a hole and creating a militarily revived NATO, including revived American strategic military forces against Russia.

[Titus-Maximus]

Does anyone remember Uranium One when Hillary Clinton delivered the uranium industry to Putin and the Clintons received 145 million as a fee.

Putin wanted Hillary because she was predictable and could be bought like a whore under a bridge.
Why would he want Trump?

[Who is John Galt?]

You’re absolutely 100% correct - nobody but a complete idiot would believe that Moscow would undercut their compliant puppet Hillary, to support a complete unknown like Donald Trump. But apparently most Democrat voters are complete idiots...

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

--- "It's impossible to overestimate how much the myth that Trump is Putin's puppet has been a core element of the liberal belief system."

It is an easy thing for us all to READ what our Trump-Vance administration have made very clear. Hotlinked to the "whitehouse.gov" site for a PDF one can download and read closely.

National Security Strategy of the United States of America November 2025

[Socon-Econ]

Puppet or not, Russia is not the enemy of MAGA America. More reason to be concerned about puppets of the Chinese and Soros.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

---- "But apparently most Democrat voters are complete idiots..."

Proof, in a picture and simple info. DEMOCRATS....

Eugene Vindman -- Democrat Congressman for Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2025 -- and Alex Vindman -- running as a Democrat in Florida in 2026.

And from Florida....

Vindman lives in Broward County. Today, he announced his intention to run, 'to get Donald Trump, and bring socialism to Florida, and for Floridians, a 'bailout'."

Source: Alexander Vindman Running For Senate From Florida! Miami Independent, 29 January 2026

So it turns out that DEMOCRATS and all those "never-Trump" RINOs have been hammering on the same theme for quite some time.

Therefore, a reminder in a simple second picture:

[catnipman]

“No amount of logic or information will disabuse them of that belief.”

my first thought as well ...

[Bon of Babble]

Lefties like to throw everything anti-Trump against the kitchen wall to see what sticks.

Russiagate always comes to mind - sore loser Hillary Clinton insisting that the Russians helped Trump defeat her in 2016.

The Muller investigation cost nearly $32 million over its two-year duration...and found nothing.

[ifinnegan]

Chicoms and Putin are allies.

[A_perfect_lady]

This is one of the beliefs liberals hold that make me realize just how bad they are at reading people. Anyone who has observed Donald Trump over the years has to know: he can’t be controlled by anyone. I mean, I just can’t imagine him putting up with coercion or blackmail for a minute. He’s got a distinct, “Let the chips fall” vibe.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

“It’s impossible to overestimate how much the myth that Trump is Putin’s puppet has been a core element of the liberal belief system.”

So true. And it can’t be more simply stated.

And the other one is “US politicians are in Israel’s back pocket”.

The US-Israel relationship is overwhelmingly beneficial to the US. Should those politicians be in Big Pharmas’ back pocket? Or big Unions back pocket? Because in Wash DC, 85% of everybody and anybody there is there for personal gain in a longstanding circus of grift.