US EditionSteve Witkoff shouldn’t be leading Iran, Russia negotiations, allies and insiders say
- The individual previously known for his career in real estate law has conducted multiple solo meetings with Vladimir Putin in Russia since February 2025 while serving as President Trump’s special envoy.
- Witkoff's unconventional diplomacy emerged from Trump assigning him to Middle East and Russian negotiations despite his lack of experience and formal State Department support.
- His solo meetings often break protocol, including reliance on Kremlin translators and sidelining experienced negotiators, which alarm U.S. Officials and foreign policy experts.
- Critics call Witkoff a "nice guy, but a bumbling idiot," note his echoing of Kremlin talking points, and highlight failed ceasefires and walk-backs on nuclear deal proposals.
- His approach deepens diplomatic splits between Washington and Kyiv, risks undermining U.S. Credibility, and prompts ongoing White House defenses amid widespread concern.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Steve Witkoff, Trump's man to make peace... and business.
The president of the United States has chosen this loved one who made a fortune in real estate to conduct his diplomacy all over the world. His name is now circulating to become his next adviser to national security. Many mock his inexperience and anticipate crazy failures. The problem could be elsewhere.
Rare land, found the deal is missing everything else: investors will wait years before the gains
The former lawyer and real estate lawyer Steve Witkoff, who became Trump's election to the White House his ambassador in Moscow, has been at the Kremlin four times in recent months. And alone. At the last meeting Putin instead next to him had his assistant Yuri Ushakov and the head of the Russian Fund for Direct Investment Kirill Dmitriev. Steve Witkoff should not lead the negotiations with Iran and Russi alone, they say sources to the New York …
“BUMBLING IDIOT”: Trump Allies Rip Into Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s Role As President’s Peace Envoy
Steve Witkoff, a former real estate mogul turned makeshift diplomat, has become a growing liability for the Trump administration, drawing scorn from foreign policy experts, career diplomats, and even members of Trump’s own orbit, the NY Post reported in a scathing article. Once hailed for brokering a brief cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Witkoff’s erratic solo diplomacy is now being widely ridiculed as amateurish, naive, and dangerously out…
'Pro-Putin' billionaire eyed as Trump's next National Security Advisor: reports
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering naming billionaire real estate mogul Steve Witkoff—his de facto envoy to Moscow—as the next National Security Advisor. Witkoff, who has no diplomatic or national security experience but does reportedly have ties to a Russian oligarch, has come under fire for his apparent closeness to Vladimir Putin. Among the concerns are that Witkoff has repeatedly been meeting the Russian leader alone, without a…
‘Pro-Putin’ Billionaire Eyed as Trump's Next National Security Advisor: Reports
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering naming billionaire real estate mogul Steve Witkoff—his de facto envoy to Moscow—as the next National Security Advisor. Witkoff, who has no diplomatic or national security experience but does reportedly have ties to a Russian oligarch, has come under fire for his apparent closeness to Vladimir Putin. Among the concerns are that Witkoff has repeatedly been meeting the Russian leader alone, without a…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 77% of the sources lean Left
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
