A new analysis by Bloomberg reveals that former President Donald Trump began echoing Russian government narratives shortly after his telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The findings have raised concerns about the alignment of messaging between the Trump administration and the Kremlin during his time in office.
The report is based on a comprehensive linguistic analysis using a large language model. Researchers examined over 300 public statements made by Trump and more than 3,000 social media posts from Trump and members of his administration. Their investigation found that the positions taken by the White House began to mirror Kremlin talking points following Trump’s initial direct communications with Putin.
The overlaps primarily concern several critical issues, including:
- Russian narratives surrounding the occupation of Ukrainian territories;
- Disinformation about elections held in Ukraine;
- Questioning the legitimacy of Ukraine’s elected leadership;
- Framing Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO as a justification for the Russian invasion.
According to Bloomberg’s investigation, this shift in language and focus became noticeable immediately after Trump’s first phone conversation with Putin. Analysts suggest that the synchronization of messages, whether intentional or not, had a tangible impact on public discourse surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The study does not claim direct collusion but highlights how public statements from the White House increasingly aligned with Russia’s strategic communication efforts during a critical time for Ukraine and broader transatlantic security.
The Kremlin has long used narratives about NATO expansion and alleged threats to Russian sovereignty as central elements of its justification for aggressive actions abroad, particularly in Ukraine.
As of now, Trump and his representatives have not publicly commented on the Bloomberg findings.
The analysis adds to ongoing discussions in Washington about the influence of foreign powers on U.S. politics and how information strategies can shape public opinion both domestically and internationally.
