Rep. Don Bacon criticized President Trump for appearing to accept Russia’s claim that Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones at a residence used by Vladimir Putin, urging the White House to "get the facts" before assigning blame. Trump said he was "very angry" after Putin informed him of the alleged incident; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the allegation a fabrication meant to undermine peace talks. The exchange follows Trump’s meetings with world leaders at Mar-a-Lago, including Zelensky, where a proposed 20-point peace plan was discussed.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon Rebukes Trump for Appearing to Accept Russia’s Claim of Ukrainian Drone Strike on Putin Residence
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) on Monday publicly criticized President Donald Trump for appearing to side with Moscow after Russia claimed Ukraine attempted a drone strike on a residence used by President Vladimir Putin. Bacon urged the White House to verify facts before assigning blame, calling Putin a "boldface liar" in a post on X.
Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that he was "very angry" after Putin informed him by phone that 91 long-range drones had been used in an overnight attack on a presidential residence in Russia’s Novgorod region. Speaking after greeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the alleged strike was "not the right time" and suggested the claim could affect delicate peace negotiations.
"It’s one thing to be offensive. It’s another thing to attack his house. It’s not the right time to do any of that. … I was very angry about it," Trump said, adding: "Well, we’ll find out. You’re saying maybe the attack didn’t take place? That’s possible, I guess, but President Putin told me this morning."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly rejected Russia’s account, calling it "a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine" and saying the allegation aimed to undermine ongoing talks. Trump met with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to discuss a proposed 20-point peace plan, a meeting that lends additional sensitivity to the competing claims.
Bacon, who is retiring at the end of the current Congress, has repeatedly criticized Trump’s foreign-policy decisions, including the administration’s handling of the Russia-Ukraine war. The episode highlights continued tensions over information and narratives in the conflict, with U.S. officials and independent analysts still seeking verifiable evidence about the reported strike.
What Remains Unclear
Official verification of the alleged drone strike has not been publicized, and competing statements from Moscow and Kyiv—combined with Trump’s reliance on information reported to him by Putin—have prompted calls from lawmakers for clearer, independently verified facts before the U.S. comments publicly on the incident.
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