When Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, most predict a loyal lieutenant and adept foreign policy expert will be by his side.
On Thursday afternoon, 92% of those using regulated exchange and prediction market site Kalshi predicted Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be there when sits across from the Russian authoritarian leader at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, in a bold attempt to end the bloody war in Ukraine.
Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, comes in at a close second with an 87% chance, followed by Vice President JD Vance at 64%.
However, it’s the fourth choice that could be awkward if it proves correct. And if there’s one trait Americans know about Trump, it’s he likes to surprise.
That’s why, sitting at just above even odds as a 53% chance, is rising cabinet star and secretary of the treasury, Scott Bessant.
More than $227,000 in bets have been placed on who will accompany Trump
Bettors on Kalshi are giving Scott Bessent even odds at attending the Putin meeting with Trump
Bessent referred to Putin as war criminal during congressional testimony in May
Putin has praised Trump ahead of the Friday summit in Alaska
Unlike the others, Bessent in the past has been extremely critical of the Russian president in the past.
In May, Bessent gave a speech to the House Committee on Financial Services where he was asked for his thoughts on Putin.
Democratic Rep. Juan Vargas asked the Treasury secretary: ‘Do you consider Vladimir Putin a war criminal?’
Bessent responded with a simple but direct answer: ‘Yes.’
Vargas then asked Bessent, ‘Would you negotiate with a war criminal?’
He replied: ‘I think that’s the nature of diplomacy, one must negotiate with both sides, sir.’
Bessent is considered one of Trump’s most loyal cabinet members
Friday’s upcoming summit, which will not include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, is the most significant diplomatic event between the US and Russia since the start of the war in 2022.
Putin convened a meeting with Kremlin officials on Thursday where he praised Trump by stating he believed the president was making ‘quite energetic and sincere efforts’ toward peace in the region.
The Russian leader suggested long-term peace could be reached if the US included strategic offensive weapons treaties in the upcoming negotiations.
