Entertainment icon Barbra Streisand has expressed cautious optimism about President Donald Trump’s recent policy shift on Ukraine. The singer and actress took to social media to share her thoughts on Trump’s decision to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine after a brief pause that raised concerns among allies.
Trump’s about-face on Ukraine support came after his administration temporarily halted some weapons shipments, including air defense missiles, following a review of military spending and American support to foreign countries. The pause occurred just before Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to speculation about the timing and motives behind the decision.
Streisand wrote on social media that ‘one can hope that Trump has had a real change of heart’, though she’s previously described him as a ‘vitriolic narcissist’ focused on ‘revenge and retribution, and he is willing to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion.” Her statement reflects the cautious hope many Americans feel about Trump’s renewed commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Trump changes course after Putin talks fail to deliver results
The president’s policy reversal came after his diplomatic efforts with Putin failed to produce any meaningful progress toward a ceasefire. Trump announced that the U.S. would resume sending weapons to Ukraine, acknowledging that his attempt at gentle diplomacy had not worked. Russia launched a record number of drones at Ukraine shortly after Trump said he had made “no progress” in his phone call with Putin.
Trump stepped up his criticism of Putin during a Cabinet meeting, saying “I’m not happy with Putin, I can tell you that much right now, because he’s killing a lot of people.” This marked a significant shift from his previous approach of trying to maintain a working relationship with the Russian leader through patient diplomacy and softer rhetoric.
The weapons pause had raised questions about who authorized the decision and whether Trump was fully aware of it. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who has covered Trump for years, described the situation as “astonishing” and suggested that more details would likely emerge about how the pause was implemented and reversed. The controversy highlighted the ongoing tensions within the administration about how to handle the Ukraine conflict, as Streisand has recently pointed out how quickly Trump forgets ‘America First’ when it doesn’t serve him while trying to negotiate with Russia.
