Russian President Vladimir Putin Prayed for Trump After Assassination Attempt, Steve Witkoff Reveals

Russian President Vladimir Putin prayed for Donald Trump after the U.S. president was shot at a campaign rally last year, according to Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff, who has met with Putin twice to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, shared the revelation in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Friday. He said Putin personally recounted his reaction to the attempted assassination of Trump.

Putin’s prayer for Trump

“When the president was shot, he went to his local church and met with his priest and prayed for the president,” Witkoff said, referring to Putin’s response to the attack.

Putin, he added, considered Trump a “friend” and had prayed for his recovery.

Witkoff also mentioned that when he told Trump about Putin’s actions, the president was “clearly touched” by the gesture.

A portrait gift from Putin

In addition to his prayers, Putin reportedly commissioned a “beautiful portrait” of Trump by a well-known Russian artist and had it delivered to him as a gift, Witkoff said.

The revelation highlights the ongoing relationship between the two leaders, who have long expressed admiration for each other. Trump has previously praised Putin as a “genius” and a “strong leader,” comments that have led to criticism from his political opponents.

The assassination attempt on Trump occurred last July when he was the Republican presidential nominee. During a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a shot that grazed Trump.

At the time, a Kremlin spokesperson blamed the attack on Trump’s political adversaries.

Recent talks between Trump and Putin

Earlier this week, Trump and Putin spoke by phone for two hours about ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump described the conversation as “very good and productive,” though details of the discussion remain unclear.

The revelation of Putin’s prayer and portrait gift further underscores the personal dynamic between the two leaders, even as tensions between their nations remain high.