The Chink in His Armor: A Single Leaked Call Uncovers the Simple Trick to Winning Over Donald Trump
The Chink in His Armor: A sensational international phone call has revealed a surprising trait of former U.S. President Donald Trump: he likes being praised, and that praise can be used to sway him into agreeing to difficult decisions. This revelation surfaced after the leak of a confidential conversation between Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Bloomberg Publishes the Explosive Transcript
On November 26, 2025, Bloomberg released the transcript of a WhatsApp call that took place on October 14, 2025. The leaked audio arrived at a critical moment when global attention was on peace negotiations aimed at ending the Ukraine war. Witkoff, who had recently been involved in mediating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, had fixed his focus on Ukraine.
Witkoff Claims Trump Responds Best to Praise
During the call, Witkoff openly told Ushakov that flattery is an effective tool when dealing with Trump. According to him, praising Trump’s accomplishments can influence his decision-making, helping secure diplomatic outcomes that would otherwise be challenging
Request to Arrange a Trump–Putin Phone Meeting
The leaked transcript shows that Ushakov requested Witkoff to help arrange a direct phone conversation between Trump and Putin. The goal was to align both leaders for further talks amid the tense Ukraine conflict and explore a possible diplomatic bridge
“Start by Praising Him,” Witkoff Advises Russia
Witkoff suggested a clear strategy to Ushakov: when Putin speaks to Trump, he must begin with strong praise. He recommended that Putin call Trump a “peace hero of Gaza” and highlight him as a leader guiding global stability. According to Witkoff, such an approach would soften Trump before presenting Russia’s Ukraine solution proposal.
Witkoff Confirms Trump Is Ready for Talks
Witkoff confidently told Ushakov, “My guy is ready for this,” indicating Trump’s willingness to engage. Notably, this conversation occurred on October 14, and just two days later, Trump and Putin indeed held a meeting—suggesting that the plan had already been set in motion.
Praise, Politics, and the Push for a Ukraine Deal
Witkoff advised that Putin congratulate Trump for the Gaza ceasefire, emphasize that Russia supported the agreement, and label Trump a “real peace man.” This was seen as a psychological approach to position Trump as a global peace architect before shifting focus to the Ukraine issue
Behind the Scenes of a New Peace Formula
According to the transcript, Witkoff told Ushakov that he had always believed Russia wanted a peace deal. He even suggested that the Ukraine conflict could be approached similarly to Gaza by presenting a “20-point peace proposal.” The conversation ended soon after this hint
Trump Responds to the Leak: “Standard Conversation”
Surprisingly, Trump expressed no discomfort when the leak went public. Instead, he dismissed any controversy, stating that the conversation represented a “standard way of talking” in international diplomacy, downplaying the significance of the flattery-focused approach.
Russia Condemns the Leak as Hybrid Warfare
Moscow reacted strongly to the leaked recording, stating that exposing the call between top Trump–Putin advisers was an attempt to derail ongoing Ukraine peace efforts. Russia called the leak a form of “hybrid warfare,” aimed at weakening diplomatic negotiations between the two nations