Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, publicly rebuked Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday. Witkoff had called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian." Cramer rejected that description. 1
Humanitarian wouldn’t be one of the first ten million words I’d think of to describe Vladimir Putin. He is anything but a humanitarian,
Witkoff made the remark in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Oct. 21, as Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard. 2 Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from Michigan. Russia sentenced him in 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony. His family says he is innocent. 2
Witkoff told Putin, "you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that." 2 Cramer said that when it comes to the release of an American, "Obviously the release of an American is a big deal." He added that Witkoff has a "different job" as a diplomat than a senator does. 1
Cramer then went further. He said that if he were ever captured by Putin, he would "rather die in a prison in Russia" than have someone call Putin a humanitarian on his behalf. 1
A second Republican piles on
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, called Witkoff's words an "embarrassing and outrageous thing to say." Tillis wrote on X that Witkoff should ask the families of children he alleges Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree. 1
Trump said Putin freed Hubbard at his request and that "There was no 'swap' necessary." He also tied the release to a decision he made five days earlier to waive some Russia sanctions just before they were to take effect. Trump said that without the waiver, "you would not have Mr. Hubbard coming back." 2
The sanctions fight behind the remark
The waiver suspends sanctions on Russia and on countries that buy its oil and gas. They were due to take effect under a law Trump signed last month. The suspension has no end date. 3 Tillis asked what part of enforcing a law the Senate passed 86-11 the president and his advisers did not understand. 3
Democrats have objected too. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, accused Trump of "thumbing his nose" at Congress. Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, said the move betrayed Ukraine and ignored Congress's intent to punish Russia. 3
thumbing his nose
What happens next
Trump said Hubbard landed in the United States on Wednesday night and would visit the White House "in the next day or so." As many as 10 other Americans, including dual nationals, remain in Russian custody. 2
That matters because it shows how far the Russia policy has strayed. Freeing a 74-year-old American is good news. But when senators in the president's own party say the envoy went too far, voters can fairly ask what else Washington is giving Moscow. Republicans control the House, Senate and White House, and no Republican has yet said whether they will vote to reverse the waiver.
The Record
Sources
- The Hill, “GOP senator: Putin is 'anything but a humanitarian'” (2026-10-22). thehill.com/homenews/senate/6165199-republicans-denounce-put
- CBS News, “U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard released by Russia after 4 years in jail, and Trump says "no 'swap'"” (2026-10-22). cbsnews.com/news/russia-stephen-hubbard-freed-american-ukrai
- Al Jazeera, “Trump faces bipartisan backlash over Russia sanctions waiver” (2026-10-17). aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/10/17/trump-faces-bipartisan-bac
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