Trump caught on hot mic saying Putin wants to 'make a deal for me'

President Trump was captured on a hot mic Monday telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “make a deal for me.”

“I think he wants to make a deal,” Trump said in the East Room of the White House ahead of the multilateral meeting between several of Europe's most powerful leaders.

“I think he wants to make a deal for me,” he continued. “Do you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.”

Trump was also heard telling Macron, “I’ll set up a trilat,” referring to a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Putin and himself. He has expressed this position publicly as well.

The president embraced Zelensky at the White House on Monday and largely used their joint Oval Office appearance to increase pressure on Putin to join the peace talks. The dynamic marked a stark shift from the Ukrainian leader's last visit to the White House in February, when the conversation devolved into an explosive shouting match on live television.

An extraordinary delegation of seven European leaders, during their own White House meeting, also sought to bolster Ukraine’s negotiating position.

Later Monday, Trump said he spoke to Putin about arranging a time for a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Trump said a trilateral meeting, which he would join, would follow sometime after.

“After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.”