Trump Preps Putin for Meeting with Biden

Geneva-Palm Beach
June 16, 2021

Trump:  Vlad, is that you?
Putin:  Yes, Donald, why are you calling?  I’m very busy now.  In fact, right now I am on my way to sit down and talk with …
Trump:  Joe Biden, I know.  Listen, Vlad – and I still think it’s really cool that you let me call you Vlad, because …
Putin:  [Angrily] I told you to stop calling me Vlad!  Call me President Putin or Vladimir Vladimirovich.
Trump:  Vuh… Vuh… What was that again?
Putin:  [Sighs] Okay, call me Vlad.
Trump:  Like I was saying, Vlad, I wouldn’t be calling if this wasn’t really important.
Putin:  What is it?
Trump:  I can help you to handle Biden at the meeting.  Now he’s probably got all these numbers and names and things memorized.  So here’s what you do – every time he tries to say something smart, talk over him.  If he wants to talk about Ukraine, just say “everyone knows your son is a crook.”  If he wants to talk about Africa or some other loser country, just say “I think you’re on drugs.”  Get it?  I don’t know if you saw our debates, but it worked like a charm for me.
Putin:  Oh, Donald, I missed some of what you were saying because I was looking over the menu for the reception – they have those little hamburgers you like.  But it sounds like you think I should be afraid that Biden has memorized some information.  Why is that, Donald?  Do you think that I don’t have any information memorized, like the name of that prostitute you hired at the Miss Universe contest, or the phone number that your Mr. Manafort passed along to …
Trump:  Okay, so you know things, too.  I just wanted to help, Vlad.  You always gave me such good advice, I thought I could return the favor.  You know, throw him off his game a little.
Putin:  Thank you, Donald, but I think I’ve got this.  
Trump:  Okay, Vlad, but can I ask you a question?
Putin:  Hurry, Donald, we don’t want Biden to fall asleep waiting for me.
[Both laugh]
Trump:  It’s just, well, don’t you think you could finally let me know what the plan is?  You told me everything is going great, but I’m sitting here in Florida and it seems like no one listens to me anymore.  My own son even walked out of the room this morning when I tried to tell him how the election was stolen.
Putin:  Junior?
Trump:  No.
Putin:  Eric?
Trump:  No, the other one, um, um, Melania’s kid.
Putin:  Barron.
Trump:  Barron!  I’ve got to write that down or something.
Putin:  All in good time, Donald.  I need to run. Just remember: we need you to try to stay out of the headlines. 
Trump:  Goodbye, Vlad, Melania sends her best!
…
Putin:  [To aides – after  3 minutes of uncontrollable laughter] You’re not going to believe this.