In an appearance on MSNBC this week, Hillary Clinton derisively singled out those in the U.S. political environment who have essentially opted to rhetorically prop up Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing campaign of aggression by the authoritarian leader against Ukraine. The people to whom Clinton was referring include, perhaps most prominently, Donald Trump himself, who commented that Putin’s moves were “genius” after Russia announced recognition of two independent countries on Ukrainian territory and revealed troop deployment plans for those areas. That point was before the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine that has since begun. Trump’s comments have been featured at RT — a news network controlled by the Russian government. Clinton, meanwhile, commented as follows:
‘We have to… make sure that within our own country, we are calling out those people who are giving aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin, who are talking about what a genius he is, what a smart move it is, who are, unfortunately, being broadcast by Russian media… to demonstrate the division within our own country… We have to be much more united in the face of what is a very real threat from Vladimir Putin and his imperialistic ambitions.’
Check out Clinton’s remarks below:
After the sweeping Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced this week, Trump commented that if he “were in Office, this deadly Ukraine situation would never have happened!” — which is just ridiculous. The statement, issued in written form with the help of spokesperson Liz Harrington, didn’t include any specific policy proposals or discussions of what Trump would have done differently — it’s just a lazy attempt at seeing what will stick, it would seem, and the attempt was no doubt poised to work on many of his fans. Trump’s original pre-invasion — but post-military threat — comments included the following: “Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper… That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re going to keep peace, all right. No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy.” Again, this attempted defense of Vladimir Putin came from a former president of the United States — and someone who could become president again if Americans aren’t sufficiently careful.
Hillary Clinton: "We have to make sure, within our own country, we're calling out those people who are giving aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin, who are talking about what a genius he is, what a smart move it is, who are, unfortunately, being broadcast by Russian media." @MSNBC
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 25, 2022
Among Republicans, elected leaders including Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah) and Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) have been among those dinging Trump for his ignorance. Cheney said that there “is no excuse for praising or appeasing Putin. If America fails to lead decisively, the vacuum will be filled by the kind of brutal tyranny we are seeing on display in Ukraine today.”
As Ronald Reagan knew, America must not “ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire.”
There is no excuse for praising or appeasing Putin.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) February 24, 2022
