The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, deemed his American counterpart, Donald Trump, as acting like a “Soviet asset” by favoring Russia in the conflict with Ukraine. These remarks caught international attention, notably being analyzed on CNN International.
“I have heard several other European leaders express similar opinions in private. It’s an exaggeration. I don’t believe there is any evidence to support it. However, what’s intriguing is that historically, the Republican Party, particularly figures like Ronald Reagan, has been very assertive in dealing with such aggressive behavior, including from Moscow. At this point, it’s simply inexplicable,” stated international security and defense expert Seth Jones during a CNN International broadcast.
Seth Jones further argued that “the Russians have not shown any serious willingness to come to an agreement,” and are “dragging the president [Trump] along with them.”
“The president has repeatedly said this, that it seems like Putin is dragging his feet, and yet, we still see no action. That’s inexplicable in many ways,” he added.
Marcelo’s statements were likewise reported by various Ukrainian media, including the agency Ukrinform, Ukrainska Pravda, UNN, and RBC-Ukraine.
“US policy puts Europe at a disadvantage relative to Russia, claims Portuguese president,” was the headline chosen by the Chinese agency Xinhua, while Indian outlets News Arena India and NDTV echoed the accusation that Trump “is a Russian asset.”
In Brazil, Gazeta do Povo reported that the “President of Portugal says that Trump is a ‘Soviet asset’ and favors Russia,” while the US-based Daily Beast used the headline “European leader calls Trump a ‘Russian asset.'” The Portuguese leader’s statements also appeared in the Alabama newspaper AL, reporting: “Trump is a ‘foreign asset’ of this country, claims world leader in a bombshell statement.”
The President of the Republic asserted that his American counterpart, Donald Trump, currently acts as a “Soviet asset,” by favoring the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine.
Lusa | 18:58 – 27/08/2025
It should be noted that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s comments were made at the PSD Summer University, an initiative aimed at training young cadres, which continues until Sunday in Castelo de Vide (Portalegre), on Wednesday.
The leader, making a surprise appearance at the event, initially addressed the international situation, citing Donald Trump as an example of a new style of political leadership, characterized by a more emotional approach and direct contact with citizens, without mediation, in a world where the balance of power has also shifted, during a panel titled ‘The President’s Responses.’
“With a peculiar and complex thing: that the highest leader of the world’s greatest superpower is, objectively, a Soviet or Russian asset. Functions as an asset,” he stated.
The President emphasized that it is not “an alliance based on friendship, economic, ideological, or doctrinal complicity.”
“I am saying that, objectively, the new American leadership has strategically favored the Russian Federation,” he said, referring to the actions of the US president in the Ukraine war.
“In other words, they have shifted from being allies on one side to referees of the challenge,” he added, noting that it is a referee who only wants to negotiate with one team, excluding both Ukraine and Europe, which had to “impose themselves” in recent negotiations.
