Russian propaganda bots are flooding social media with attacks against President Donald Trump after his unexpected criticism of Vladimir Putin’s war tactics in Ukraine.
At a Glance
- Nearly 1,000 posts on Russian social network VKontakte have targeted Trump, calling him a “clown” with “dementia” following his criticism of Putin
- Trump called Putin “absolutely CRAZY” and accused him of “needlessly killing a lot of people” in Ukraine after a major Russian aerial assault
- Despite the public clash, Trump claims he recently had a “very well” phone call with Putin
- Trump continues to insist he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in “24 hours” while criticizing both Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky
- The Kremlin has dismissed Trump’s criticisms as “emotional overstrain” while continuing military operations in Ukraine
Russian Bot Campaign Targets Trump
A coordinated Russian bot campaign has emerged on VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, targeting Donald Trump after his criticism of Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Nearly 1,000 posts have appeared since Trump described the Russian president as “absolutely CRAZY” and condemned him for “needlessly killing a lot of people” in Ukraine. The Russian bot-tracking project Botnadzor has noted the unusually unified negative tone of these posts, suggesting a coordinated propaganda effort to undermine Trump’s statements.
The bots have launched personal attacks questioning Trump’s mental state, suggesting he has dementia and describing him as a “clown.” Many posts mockingly question why Trump is focusing on Russia rather than domestic American issues, while others push a narrative that cognitive decline is common among U.S. Presidents. This sudden shift in Russian social media sentiment toward Trump marks a significant change from previous generally favorable coverage.
It's been pointed out many times already — 99% of all social media accounts are bots.
The total number of accounts on all platforms greatly exceeds the human population of this planet.
Any account that's pro-Trump, pro-Putin, pro-Russia, and anti-Ukraine is probably a bot.
— Drongo Bum (@DrongoBum) May 12, 2025
Trump’s Unexpected Criticism of Putin
Trump’s strong criticism of Putin represents a notable departure from his previously warm rhetoric toward the Russian leader. The President’s comments came after Russia launched a major aerial assault on Ukraine, prompting Trump to publicly question Putin’s mental state and strategic decisions. Despite claiming to have maintained “a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin,” Trump now suggests something fundamental has changed in the Russian leader’s approach.
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!”, said Donald Trump.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump further warned that Putin was “playing with fire” over stalled Ukraine peace efforts. He boldly claimed that Russia would have faced “really bad” consequences without his intervention, hinting at potential new sanctions against Moscow. These statements follow reports that Trump had expressed frustration with Russia’s position in stalled truce negotiations, particularly after a significant drone attack resulted in at least 13 Ukrainian deaths.
Diplomatic Fallout and Contradictions
The Kremlin quickly responded to Trump’s criticisms, dismissing them as “emotional overstrain” while continuing military operations in Ukraine. Despite the public exchange of harsh words, Trump has maintained his claim that a recent phone call with Putin “went very well” and that the Russian President had agreed to start ceasefire talks. However, Russia has continued its attacks, undermining Trump’s narrative of diplomatic progress.
Adding to the complexity, Trump has simultaneously criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting his statements are causing problems for peace efforts. Moscow has seized on this narrative, accusing Kyiv of attempting to disrupt peace efforts while justifying its aerial assaults as responses to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian civilians. Throughout this diplomatic standoff, Trump continues to insist he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in “24 hours” if given the opportunity.
Long-term Implications
The coordinated Russian bot campaign against Trump illustrates how quickly the Kremlin’s propaganda machine can pivot when its interests are challenged. Trump’s prediction that Putin “wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it” and warning that such ambitions “will lead to the downfall of Russia” represents his strongest criticism of Russian policy to date. This unexpected tension between Trump and Putin could reshape perceptions among American voters concerned about Trump’s previously warm relationship with the Russian leader.
As Russian attacks on Ukraine continue and peace negotiations remain stalled, the effectiveness of Trump’s diplomatic approach and his claims about ending the conflict quickly face serious challenges. The situation demonstrates how digital propaganda and international diplomacy have become increasingly intertwined, with social media campaigns serving as tools for political pressure and narrative control in the complex dynamics of modern geopolitical conflicts.
