Washington/Moscow – Pro-Kremlin social media bots have launched a coordinated smear campaign against U.S. President Donald Trump following his sharp criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The online backlash marks a striking shift in tone from Russian-aligned networks that had previously maintained a neutral or cautiously supportive stance toward Trump.
According to Agentstvo, an independent Russian investigative outlet, nearly 1,000 derogatory posts targeting Trump have appeared on the Russian social media platform VKontakte since Sunday. The surge followed Trump’s comments on Truth Social, in which he described Putin as having gone “absolutely CRAZY” and accused him of “needlessly killing a lot of people” during a major missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
“This is not just about soldiers,” Trump wrote. “Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever.”
The posts—allegedly from accounts linked to the Kremlin’s propaganda machinery—accused Trump of suffering from dementia, likened him to a “clown,” and mocked his emotional outburst. One post said, “It’s not Putin who’s gone crazy, but Trump,” while another declared, “He wants to sit on two chairs,” referencing a Russian idiom implying duplicity.
The change in tone is significant. Pro-Kremlin online actors had previously refrained from overt attacks on Trump, often portraying him as a disruptive force within Western politics or as a possible ally of Moscow. The new wave of hostility suggests the Russian government may be displeased with Trump’s shifting rhetoric, particularly amid ongoing efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attempted to downplay the fallout, describing Trump’s remarks as a product of “emotional overstrain.” He added, “We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process.”
Trump, who assumed office in January and has pledged to end the war within 24 hours, told reporters he was shocked by Putin’s latest military actions.
“I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him,” Trump said. “But he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all.”
Despite the criticism, Trump reiterated his commitment to peace talks, claiming that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were set to resume following his recent call with Putin.
The deteriorating online support from Kremlin-aligned sources adds another layer of complexity to U.S.-Russia relations. It also raises questions about Trump’s future diplomatic strategy, especially as he navigates tensions with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, has continued to push for stronger sanctions against Russia. “Russia can only be constrained by force,” he said in a recent statement urging Western allies to tighten economic pressure on the Kremlin.
As the war drags on and political alignments shift, the sudden rupture between Russian propaganda networks and a U.S. president they once tolerated could signal a recalibration in Moscow’s approach—and in Trump’s.
