Trump's allies need to stop taking the punches — it's time to play him at his own game | Sean Bell

Host Maddie Hail speaks with retired Air Vice Marshal Sean Bell from Ankara, Turkey, where the NATO summit is underway. Bell delivers sharp criticism of President Trump's handling of multiple international crises while offering a provocative military analysis of the Ukraine war. The former fighter pilot argues that Russia's increased strikes on civilian targets in Kyiv actually demonstrate Putin's frustration and military weakness, not strength, claiming Russia can no longer recruit enough soldiers and is losing more territory than it gains. Bell accuses Trump of being played by Putin like a laughingstock, noting the president's repeated failed predictions about wars ending and his inability to influence Russian behavior despite a 90-minute phone call that was immediately followed by strikes on Kyiv. The military analyst reserves particular criticism for Trump's treatment of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, calling his social media attacks including restraining order jokes grossly misogynistic and damaging to allied relations ahead of critical summit talks. Bell supports Trump's pressure on NATO allies to increase defense spending to five percent of GDP, arguing European nations including the UK have failed to prioritize defense appropriately despite acknowledging the Russian threat. He suggests Trump arrives at the summit wounded after his Iran policy failures and questions whether the president still supports NATO's Article 5 collective defense commitment given his affinity for Putin. Bell predicts Zelenskyy will secure financial commitments rather than additional Patriot missiles, as global stockpiles are insufficient and Ukraine is developing innovative lower-cost missile alternatives using component parts from Western allies.

• Sean Bell claims Putin may be treating Trump like a laughingstock after repeated failed predictions about ending the Ukraine and Iran wars with no diplomatic progress achieved
• The military analyst argues Russia's civilian infrastructure strikes in Kyiv demonstrate military weakness and frustration as Russia runs out of military targets and struggles on front lines
• Bell condemns Trump's social media attacks on Italian PM Giorgia Meloni as grossly misogynistic behavior that damages relations with key allies before the NATO summit
• Russia can no longer recruit enough soldiers to replace battlefield losses and Ukraine is recapturing more territory than Russia gains, according to Bell's assessment
• Trump's 90-minute call with Putin produced no change in Russian behavior as strikes on Kyiv continued immediately afterward showing Trump lacks leverage over Putin
• Bell supports Trump's pressure on NATO allies to reach five percent defense spending but criticizes the UK for failing to produce credible plans to meet targets
• Zelenskyy likely to receive financial commitments rather than Patriot missiles at summit as global stockpiles are insufficient and Ukraine develops innovative lower-cost alternatives