‘I Have A Hunch’: Gingrich Previews What Could Go Down Between Putin And Trump

Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicted Tuesday on Fox News’ “Hannity” that President Donald Trump could “walk out” of the upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin if he believes Putin is attempting to “run a bluff” on him.

Trump announced in a Truth Social post Friday that he will meet with Putin Aug. 15 after repeatedly calling for peace between Ukraine and Russia. Host Sean Hannity asked Gingrich what he believes could transpire between the two. (RELATED: Trump Reportedly Wants Zelenskyy To Go For Russia’s Throat)

“I tweeted today, it was a very bad sign, that the Russians launched a big offensive yesterday on the eve of this thing. I think that Putin is probably going to walk in there, totally misunderstanding Trump, trying to run a bluff,” Gingrich said. “My guess is if that’s what happens then he’s going to get up and walk out.”

“He’s just going to say, ‘This is all baloney. You’re a liar and I can’t trust you. I’m not going to work with you.’ I think what Putin believes, which is a total misreading of President Trump, is that somehow Trump can be talked into a fantasy,” Gingrich added. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. But, again, I’m an optimist. I’m a big believer in Donald Trump.”

Trump said he and Putin will meet in the “Great State” of Alaska.

Talks about negotiations began in May after a two-hour phone call with Putin. Despite Trump’s push to end the war, however, Putin showed reluctance to have any discussions with Ukraine.

WATCH:

With the death toll from the conflict reportedly climbing into the hundreds of thousands, Trump last month announced a plan to support Ukraine. The president sent offensive weapons to Ukraine and threatened Russia with “severe” sanctions and tariffs, giving Putin 50 days to come to the table.

The president, however, shortened Putin’s timeline again, vowing to impose sweeping secondary tariffs and sanctions against key Russian industries.

“I think he [Trump] is going to walk in there, he’s going to look him in the eye, and he’s going to say, ‘If you continue this, you will be crushed. Now, do you want to continue, or should we talk?’ And if Putin says something baloney, he’s going to get up and say, ‘We’ll meet later,’” Gingrich said.

“I remember President Trump said to me one day, in negotiating with the Japanese, they walked out four times, and he sat there calmly, and they kept coming back,” Gingrich said. “And I have a hunch that’s the way he’s going to approach Alaska.”

On Wednesday U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in a last effort, with the two reportedly speaking for three hours about potential peace talks. Reports on Friday indicated that Putin said would consider halting the war in exchange for Kyiv giving up the Russian-speaking Donbas region.

The peace negotiations come on the heels of Trump successfully brokering a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia over territorial claims on Aug. 8, following other agreements including cease-fires between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Syria, and India and Pakistan.

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