The summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is underway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, US President Donald Trump descended the stairs from Air Force One at 11:08am local time, and he walked along a red carpet.
He stopped, and as Russian President Vladimir Putin approached, applauded him before offering a handshake and a tap on the arm. Putin appeared to make a joke prompting smiles from both leaders.
They walked together toward a platform marked “Alaska 2025,”where again the two leaders exchanged a handshake, posed for photographs; but as reporters shouted questions at Putin about a ceasefire and civilian casualties, the Russian president shrugged as if indicating he couldn’t hear them. American military aircraft—including fighter jets and what appeared to be a B-2 stealth bomber—thundered overhead.
WATCH : Stealth bombers fly over as Trump greets Putin in Alaska#TrumpPutinSummit pic.twitter.com/ZKavFXu8P0
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 15, 2025
Putin then joined Trump in the presidential limousine, ‘The Beast’. The two could be seen laughing inside.
What is The Beast ?
When not travelling aboard Air Force One or by helicopter on Marine One, US presidents are chauffeured in a heavily armoured presidential limousine known as “The Beast.”
#WATCH | Alaska, USA | US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin share the same car to reach the venue for their talks.
Source: Reuters pic.twitter.com/X9YkJvqb6g
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2025
‘The Beast,’ weighing 20,000 pounds and equipped with advanced security and communications systems, debuted during Trump’s first term in 2018 and reportedly cost $1.5 million to build. While it resembles an elongated Cadillac XT6, its chassis comes from a Chevrolet Kodiak truck.
Security features remain classified, but a report by NBC, suggests the vehicle has night-vision, tear gas launchers, electrified door handles, 3-inch-thick windows, and 8-inch armor plating—making it one of the most secure vehicles in the world.