Despite aligning with the view of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who opined that U.S. President Donald Trump acts as a “Soviet asset,” political scientist José Adelino Maltez expressed to Notícias ao Minuto that the Head of State showed a “lack of control.” He added, however, that “diplomatic relations [are not at stake], unless Trump is indeed mad.”
Originally expected to intervene via videoconference, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made a surprise appearance at the Summer University of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) last Wednesday. In a session titled ‘The President’s Responses’, he referenced Donald Trump to illustrate a new style of political leadership characterized by emotion and direct citizen contact, without any form of mediation, amidst a shifting global power balance.
“The leader of the world’s greatest superpower, objectively, is a Soviet or Russian asset. Functions as an asset,” he stated at the training initiative for young cadres running until Sunday in Castelo de Vide.
The official elaborated that there isn’t “a friendship-based alliance, nor one grounded in economic, ideological, or doctrinal complicity,” but that “objectively, the new American leadership has strategically favored the Russian Federation“.
“In other words, they have moved from allies on one side to referees of the challenge“, referees who wish to negotiate only with one team, excluding both Ukraine and Europe, who were compelled to “impose” their presence in recent peace negotiations.
The remarks by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, suggesting that his American counterpart, Donald Trump, operates as a “Soviet asset” by favoring Russia, have gained international attention.
Notícias ao Minuto | 09:05 – 29/08/2025
José Adelino Maltez, queried by Notícias ao Minuto, affirmed that diplomatic relations between Portugal and the United States “are not at risk, unless Trump is truly insane“. He admitted, though, that Marcelo displayed a “lack of control, which is regrettable”.
“This will reach Trump’s ears, that is evident. […] It’s a conversation usually held within families, not before cameras, as a President holds a diplomatic role and is subject to scrutiny,” he commented.
The political analyst clarified that “all these minor mistakes generate a barrage against [the President],” particularly at a time when “everyone is criticizing him.”
“In the dictionary, ‘coffee conversation’ might come to bear a new meaning: Marcelo’s conversation,” he jested.
Nonetheless, José Adelino Maltez emphasized that “Marcelo is absolutely right; Trump has become a Soviet asset”. “The issue was it being him who said this at an event of the ruling party in Portugal, but there’s no stopper for the President,” he remarked.
The American politics and geopolitics analyst Germano Almeida is this Thursday’s guest on Vozes ao Minuto.
Daniela Filipe | 08:14 – 22/05/2025
