Fox News host Brian Kilmeade has joined bipartisan criticism of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a humanitarian.” The comments came after Witkoff thanked Putin for releasing Stephen Hubbard, an elderly American teacher who had been held in Russia for over four years.
Kilmeade played footage of the exchange on his podcast, “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” expressing strong disapproval. "What an embarrassing statement that is," Kilmeade stated. He recounted that Hubbard, a 75-year-old American teaching in Ukraine, was allegedly tortured in prison after being apprehended by Russian authorities. Kilmeade questioned the appropriateness of calling Putin a humanitarian, given his actions.
Witkoff, who was in St. Petersburg for a meeting, made the remarks while thanking Putin for Hubbard's release. "You talk so much about my president, President [Donald] Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir. And I salute that," Witkoff said.
Kilmeade countered that Putin "kills his opponents, he arrests journalists, tries to poison people wherever they are around the world. He’s bombing innocent people on a daily basis." He suggested that while Witkoff's compliment might be intended as a strategic move related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it ultimately made him appear “naive."
The envoy's remarks have drawn condemnation from many Republican lawmakers, who, along with Democrats, have criticized Witkoff, noting his lack of success in negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
This incident follows recent actions that have drawn scrutiny, including Trump's decision to waive sanctions on Putin and resume purchasing Russian diesel fuel. Additionally, the White House has faced allegations of slowing down U.S.-provided Starlink internet services in Ukraine, which reportedly contributed to civilian deaths.
International bodies have also raised concerns about Putin's actions. In 2023, the International Criminal Court accused Putin of war crimes for allegedly deporting Ukrainian children. A recent United Nations report indicated that Putin’s attacks on Ukraine resulted in at least 328 civilian deaths in September alone.