The snapshot, taken at last year’s Alaska summit, is reportedly displayed in a waiting area for official guests
A photograph of US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been hung at the White House, according to PBS correspondent Elizabeth Landers.
Landers said the image can be seen in the recently renovated Palm Room, a waiting area linking the West Wing to the executive residence, positioned above a family photo of Trump with his granddaughter.
The snapshot shows Trump and Putin walking side by side at their summit in Anchorage, Alaska, last year and appears to match the photo the US president displayed at an August press conference, which he said was sent to him by Putin.
The Palm Room is not part of public tours but serves as the main lobby for officials and journalists visiting the West Wing. It was redesigned last September from a greenhouse-style lounge into a formal reception area with framed portraits.
Also something I noticed in a vestibule area that connects the West Wing to the residence that I hadn’t see before: a framed photo of Presidents Trump and Putin at their summer summit in Alaska. Lower photo is President Trump with one of his grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/jabUEmZyay
— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) January 27, 2026
While a Trump official said it is routine for photos of presidential engagements to be displayed and rotated throughout the White House, Landers’ discovery quickly drew media attention given the complicated Trump-Putin dynamic.
Since returning to office, Trump has alternated between criticizing Putin over stalled Ukraine conflict peace efforts and praising their personal rapport. Their August 2025 summit in Alaska – the first face-to-face meeting between US and Russian leaders since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 – ended without a ceasefire deal but was described by both sides as productive.
Putin has likewise portrayed his contact with Trump as constructive, presenting it as a chance to restore strained bilateral relations. He has echoed Trump’s claim that the Ukraine conflict might have been avoided had Trump remained in office, and expressed optimism about future cooperation once the conflict ends.
The photo’s appearance comes as diplomatic engagement over Ukraine continues. Last week, delegations from the US, Russia, and Ukraine met in Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral talks since 2022, aimed at advancing a peace framework.
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The sides described the discussions as constructive, though territorial issues reportedly remain the main obstacle.
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