Trump Envoy’s Son Defends Father After Putin Meeting Draws Criticism

Valentyn Ogirenko / REUTERS The son of a top Trump envoy rushed to his father’s defense after the administration’s latest meeting with Russia got brutally mocked online.

Zach Witkoff, the son of President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, defended his dad after a recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin drew flak on X.

Witkoff, 69, landed in Saint Petersburg early Wednesday morning to meet with Putin, 74.

Hours later, Putin said he agreed to release retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard from prison, citing a request from Trump.

Mario Nawfal , a political commentator who posts news updates on his X account, reported on Witkoff’s landing in Russia with a pointed remark.

“Witkoff has been to Russia so many times he should be collecting air miles,” he said.

“Whether this trip finally lands a deal is another story.” Zach, a businessman and co-founder of the Trump-linked crypto empire World Liberty Financial, didn’t let the comment slide.

“This is disgusting and intellectually dishonest,” he wrote in response .

“Robert Gillman, Marc Fogel, and now Stephen Hubbard; all US citizens who President Trump, this admin and my father worked tirelessly to bring home.

Why don’t you ask them or their families whether my dad was collecting air miles’ traveling to Russia.

Keep trying to get more clicks though…” Though Nawfal snubbed Zach, former Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor chimed in with a dig at Witkoff’s remarks about Putin.

After Hubbard’s release, Witkoff fawned over the Russian dictator with eyebrow-raising praise.

“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian,” he told Putin.

“You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you, and I thank you again.” Vietor said the comment “is one of the most humiliating things I have ever seen in politics.” “Keep crying about random tweets while Ukrainian kids get slaughtered,” he wrote to Zach.