Trump Insiders Criticize Envoy Witkoff's Negotiation Tactics with Russia, Iran

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy for Middle East and Russia negotiations, is facing bipartisan criticism for his unorthodox and inexperienced approach to high-stakes diplomatic talks. Witkoff, a real estate developer with no prior diplomatic experience, has attended meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin alone and relied on Kremlin translators, breaking longstanding U.S. diplomatic protocol and raising concerns about security and effective communication. Critics within the Trump administration and foreign policy experts argue that Witkoff's dealmaking zeal and lack of expertise may be liabilities, with some insiders calling him a 'bumbling idiot' and questioning his ability to navigate complex negotiations with Russia, Iran, and in the Middle East. Ukrainian officials and security analysts warn that Witkoff's methods risk undermining U.S. credibility and complicating peace efforts, while others point to stalled progress in resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine as evidence of his ineffectiveness. Observers suggest that Trump should replace Witkoff with a more experienced diplomat to avoid further foreign policy failures. The overall consensus is that learning foreign affairs on the job is proving disastrous in the current geopolitical climate.