To mark the inauguration, I offer my comrades this little diversion. See if you can change TRUMP to PUTIN in thirteen steps (or fewer), changing just one letter in every step, and making sure that each step along the way is a legal five-letter Scrabble word. I have posted my solution in the comments. If you find a shorter one, please share it.
0. TRUMP
2. ________
3. ________
4. ________
5. ________
6. ________
7. ________
8. ________
10. ________
11. ________
12. ________
13. PUTIN



Here is my solution:
TRUMP – TRAMP – TRAMS – TEAMS – TEARS – PEARS – PEAKS
PECKS – PACKS – PACES – PATES – PATEN – PATIN – PUTIN