Putin is waging an image war against Trump
From redecorating the White House to proposing an Air Force One upgrade, President Trump is a man consumed with his image. But Russian President Vladimir Putin may be giving him a run for his money.
Putin rolled up to his Finland meeting with Trump almost an hour late Monday, The Washington Post reports. It's typical of the Russian leader, data from The Independent shows — and some say it's an attempt at showing dominance.
After ripping off his jacket on the tarmac, Putin ducked into a 22-foot-long, Russian-made vehicle that drew comparisons to Trump's "Beast" of a Cadillac, the Post noted. The massive vehicle is Russia's first luxury car produced in years, per state media.
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Putin has elevated his brand during his presidency, graduating from oversized suits to shirtless horseback rides, the Post points out. He's carefully crafted a tough-guy image to counter his country's shaky one. That image — apparently built by once showing up four hours late to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel — has even earned him comparisons to Trump.
Putin also arrived 40 minutes late to meet former President Barack Obama, making his tardiness bipartisan.
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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
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