On January 27, 2026, a framed photograph of President Trump standing with Russian President Vladimir Putin was spotted hanging in the White House Palm Room, which connects the West Wing to the residence. The gold-framed photo hangs above a picture of Trump with one of his grandchildren and was taken during a meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15, 2025 for Ukraine peace deal negotiations.
The display sparked immediate backlash from U.S. and European leaders, as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. The White House also hung photos of Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the renovated room. Critics argue the prominent display of Putin—while Russia wages war in Ukraine and amid longstanding questions about Trump's relationship with Russia—shows dangerously poor judgment and raises questions about foreign influence and conflicts of interest.