Fox News host: Russians ‘must be laughing their heads off’ over Witkoff ‘humanitarian’ remark

Fox News host Brian Kilmeade posted a video clip of himself on the social platform X criticizing special envoy Steve Witkoff’s comment calling Russian President Vladimir Putin “a humanitarian.”

“The Russians must be laughing their heads off,” Kilmeade said in the video.

“That just makes you look naïve. A humanitarian? This guy kills his opponents, he arrests journalists … ladies and gentlemen, anyone listening, if you see Vladimir Putin, do not call him a humanitarian,” he continued.

Kilmeade’s remarks are in regard to what Witkoff said to Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia following the release of Stephen Hubbard on Wednesday.

“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian,” Witkoff said to Putin. “You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.”

Hubbard was released Wednesday and has returned to the U.S. after being detained in Russia for nearly four years. He arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio early Thursday morning. Trump said he personally asked the Russian president to release Hubbard in a phone call, and Witkoff traveled to Russia to secure his release.

Witkoff’s remarks sparked backlash across the board with multiple Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), criticizing his comment.

“Look up the definition of ‘humanitarian.’ What an embarrassing and outrageous thing to say,” Tillis wrote X. “You should go back to Ukraine and ask the families of the children Putin has kidnapped and murdered whether they agree your friend Putin is a ‘humanitarian.’”