Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska ends a week

president Donald Trump High-stakes meeting with the Russian president ends the 30th week of his second term Vladimir Putin Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, attempted to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The two did not reach a peace deal, but Trump said the meeting was successful, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visiting the White House in Washington on Monday.

“This is the best way to end the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine, a decision to reach a peace agreement directly, which will end the war, not just a ceasefire agreement, which often won’t be reached,” Trump said in a post on Saturday about the social of truth.

Trump said if Washington’s meeting with Zelenskyy goes well, a trilateral meeting between the United States, Russia and Ukraine will be arranged.

Trump described the meeting with Putin as “very warm” and said he believes a deal is about to be concluded.

“I can tell you that this meeting was a very enthusiastic meeting,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hanniti Exclusive interview. “You know, he’s a strong guy, he’s strong in all of this, but this meeting was a very enthusiastic meeting between two very important countries and when they get along, it’s very good. I think we’re very close to the deal. Now, Ukraine has to agree.”

Here’s what happened this week:

Crime suppression

on Monday, Trump announces he will activate About 800 National Guard units will take over the Metropolitan Police Department to resolve crimes in Washington. The move comes after Trump already stepped up federal law enforcement presence in the U.S. capital on Saturday.

“I’m deploying the National Guard to help rebuild laws, orders and public safety in Washington State,” Trump told reporters at a press conference on Monday. “And they will be allowed to get the job done correctly.”

Trump controls subway police, deploys National Guard to accept Washington crimes

Member of the Drug Enforcement Bureau Patrol on M Street, Georgetown, Washington August 13, 2025

Trump initially recommended the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. and sent the National Guard to resolve crimes in Washington on August 6 in response to the attacks on former Department of Administration Efficiency (DOGE) staff.

Despite the need to take over the Met Police Department emergency, Washington officials filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s actions on Friday.

“By illegally announcing the takeover of the MPD, the government is abused by its temporary, limited authority under the law,” Washington Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in a post on Friday X. “This is the worst threat DC has ever had to to its own rules and we are working to stop it.”

Smithsonian Comments

The White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian on Tuesday announcing that it would conduct a review of its museum and an exhibition ahead of the 250th birthday of the United States in 2025.

“We want museums to treat our country fairly,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “We want their museums to talk about our country’s history in a fair way, not awaken in a racist way, which is what many of them are doing, not all of them, but many of them are doing.”

“Our museums have an obligation to represent what has happened in our country over the years. Good and bad,” Trump said. “But what has happened in an accurate way over the years.”

Trump says

The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of History is seen from the Washington Monument in Washington, DC on June 3, 2025. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

The White House said in a letter Tuesday that the review will involve examining social media, exhibition texts and educational materials to “evaluate the tone, historical framework, and consistency with the American ideal.”

“This initiative is intended to ensure consistency with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, to eliminate divisions or partisan narratives, and to restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” the letter said.

The White House reviews all Smithsonian Museums, showing content ahead of the 250 U.S. celebrations

Smithsonian told Fox News that it will coordinate the matter with the White House, Congress and its governing committee.

“The Smithsonian’s work is based on a profound commitment to academic excellence, rigorous research and accuracy, factual presentation of history,” the Smithsonian said in a statement.