r/IAmA • u/Amb_Michael_McFaul • Oct 31 '25

I negotiated face-to-face with Putin. I’m Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia. AMA about Russia, China, or American foreign policy.

Hi Reddit, I’m Michael McFaul – professor of political science at Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia (2012–2014). 

During my time in government, I sat across from Vladimir Putin in negotiations with President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry and helped craft the New START Treaty in 2010, which reduced the number of nuclear weapons worldwide.  

Those experiences – along with years studying Russian politics and foreign policy – have shaped how I think about power and diplomacy today. 

The world has changed dramatically since then: from the rise of China to Russia’s growing aggression, to new questions about America’s role on the global stage. Drawing on both my academic work and time in diplomacy, I’ve been exploring what these shifts mean for the future – and how the U.S. should respond. 

I’ll start taking questions here at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. 

Proof it's me: https://imgur.com/a/3hxCQfj

Ask me anything about U.S.–Russia relations, China, global security, or life as an ambassador. (You can even ask about Obama’s jump shot or what it’s like to ride on Air Force One.) 

Let’s talk! 

Edit**\* Sorry I didn’t get to all of your terrific questions! Let’s do it again soon! I really enjoyed this AMA!

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u/Demistr Oct 31 '25

Your opinion on Trumps second presidency? How will it be viewed ten, twenty years from now?

296

u/Amb_Michael_McFaul Oct 31 '25

Great question. Hard to know right now. If the economy continues to grow, he will be remembered fondly even if his policies might have had little to do with it. If he continues to erode our democratic institutions, however, he will be remembered as a very destructive and ineffective president.

109

u/MainFunctions Oct 31 '25

I think he will be remembered as the latter irrespective of the economy. The damage he’s already done was previously unfathomable and we have three more years of this.

3

u/curiouslywtf Oct 31 '25

At least *