Trump used his high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska as a springboard for campaign fundraising, blasting out an email to supporters with the subject line: “I’m meeting with Putin in Alaska!” The appeal described the talks as “very high stakes for the world” while asking recipients to chip in $10 to a so-called “Trump Blitz” before a midnight deadline.

Trump framed the encounter as proof that no one knows how to “make deals” like him, while accusing Democrats of rooting for him to fail. The appeal had fundraising links to donations forms throughout the email.

The move blurs the line between diplomacy and political gain. Trump has said he is working to “stop the killing” in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, yet his campaign quickly turned the moment int

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