"President applauded the criminal": Dominik Hašek blasts U.S. for honoring a war criminal as Donald Trump rolls out red carpet for Vladimir Putin

Former NHL goaltender Dominik Hašek , one of the most outspoken critics of Russia’s war in Ukraine , has ignited debate once again — this time over the high-profile Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin . The meeting, held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was Putin’s first trip to the United States in more than a decade and his most visible appearance in the West since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the summit was billed as an opportunity for dialogue, the optics of Putin’s arrival became the center of controversy.

Dominik Hašek slams Trump–Putin Alaska summit over ‘red carpet’ military welcome
In a fiery post on X, Dominik Hašek blasted the reception ceremony that included a military honor guard and a red-carpet welcome. “I will never forget in my life that on August 15, 2025, American soldiers rolled out the red carpet for the greatest criminal of the 21st century,” Hašek wrote. He further criticized Trump for smiling, shaking hands, and walking alongside Putin in what he saw as an unacceptable show of respect.

I will never forget in my life that on August 15, 2025, American soldiers rolled out the red carpet for the greatest criminal of the 21st century. And on that carpet, the US President applauded the criminal with a smile, shook his hand, and walked along the carpet with him. pic.twitter.com/RGR7zDt4Gu

— Dominik Hasek (@hasek_dominik) August 17, 2025

Putin’s arrival, complete with ceremonial flyovers and a formal welcome, was designed to showcase diplomacy but instead fueled outrage among critics. No ceasefire or peace agreement emerged from the meeting, leaving observers to question whether the elaborate reception only legitimized Moscow’s actions without delivering meaningful progress.

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Hašek, a Czech legend and Hall of Famer, has repeatedly used his platform to call out what he sees as Western complacency in confronting Russian aggression. By labeling Putin “the greatest criminal of the 21st century,” he echoed the frustrations of those who view symbolic gestures — like red carpets and photo ops — as undermining the suffering of Ukrainians. His comments highlight a broader clash between the pageantry of diplomacy and the moral outrage of war.