Video: Brit Hume Calls Witkoff's Description of Putin as a 'Humanitarian' 'Absurd' but Sees a Prisoner-Release Strategy
In a 1 minute 43 second clip from Special Report, Fox's chief political analyst says flattery may have helped free a man held for four years, but that the envoy went too far.
Fox News has posted a short clip of chief political analyst Brit Hume reacting to presidential envoy Steve Witkoff calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian." Fox lists the clip at 1 minute 43 seconds, from "Special Report."
This post summarizes a Fox News video. We relied on Fox's title and description, not on watching or hearing the footage, so we cannot tell you what was said beyond that description.
What Fox says. According to the description, Hume responds as President Trump addresses Witkoff's comments. Hume calls the description "absurd," pointing to Putin's actions against civilians. He suggests the flattery was a diplomatic strategy to secure the release of a prisoner locked up for four years, but argues Witkoff went too far.
The background. Witkoff made the remark when he told Putin about American teacher Stephen Hubbard, saying "Because of you, he's going home to his family." Russia has since released Hubbard, and a separate Fox clip shows him arriving in San Antonio. We have covered the release separately. Fox's description of this clip does not name Hubbard, so linking the two is our reading.
What the listing does not say. It does not quote Hume beyond the single word "absurd," and does not give Trump's remarks on the topic. Fox's page dates the clip October 22, with a posting time shortly before midnight Eastern.
To see the footage, watch the clip at Fox.