Historical Context: Past U.S.-Russia Presidential Limo Rides
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a warm welcome at the White House with a red carpet, jet flyover, and a ride in Trump’s armored presidential Cadillac limousine, known as 'The Beast.' The 10-minute ride included a beaming smile from Putin, indicating a positive interaction. Trump stated he would determine within minutes if the summit would be a 'good or bad meeting.' The event contrasted with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s reception at the White House in February, where he was criticized by Trump. Past U.S.-Russia presidential limo rides, like Obama and Medvedev’s 2010 lunch at Ray’s Hell Burger, were less contentious than Trump’s current situation, as Medvedev faced no war crime accusations or conflicts like the one in Ukraine.