On August 15, 2025, Brian Krassenstein, a left-wing influencer, posted a controversial message on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that sn*pers should have been positioned in Anchorage, Alaska, to “take out” Russian President Vladimir Putin during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. This comment was made following an incident where Putin shrugged off questions about civilian d**ths in Ukraine, which some interpreted as dismissive.

Krassenstein’s initial post was:
“They should have had sn*pers in Anchorage, Alaska, ready to take him out as soon as he shrugged.”
He later followed up with a “correction”:

“Correction. We should p*ison him instead. Make it less obvious.”
These statements sparked significant backlash, with many accusing him of inciting vi*lence. Despite the controversy, Krassenstein’s account has not been suspended, leading to discussions about the platform’s moderation policies.

The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters, including Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, who condemned the reaction to the Trump-Putin summit, suggesting it reflected a dangerous willingness to escalate tensions.