10 Republicans Facing Criticism for Suspected Pro-Russia Position Amid Ukraine Conflict
As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s outrageous war rages on, Americans continue to be very vocal in supporting Ukraine. But not all politicians feel the same way. Here are some of the most outrageous quotes from American politicians who seem to be all about Russia in this conflict.
It Starts at the Top
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Former President Trump has long led the pro-Russia charge. Many think that Putin has Trump in his back pocket.
Putin the Peacekeeper
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That’s sort of hard to deny when you see quotes like this from the 45th President: “So Putin is now saying it’s independent, a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s the strongest peace force.”
Trump on Putin’s Payroll?
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That sort of stance has long caused problems even within Trump’s own Republican party.
Way back in 2017, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy thought Trump was on Putin’s payroll.
And He Has a Partner
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“There’s two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy said, referring to the president and former California representative Dana Rohrabacher.
Russia over Biden
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Meanwhile, Republican House representative Paul Gosar from Arizona is no fan of President Biden or Ukraine, but he seems pretty okay with Russia.
He Has No Boundaries
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Gosar even used a toxic spill in another state to promote his claims: “Joe Biden visiting Ukraine is a slap in the face to every American, especially the people of East Palestine, Ohio. Ukraine is not our friend, and Russia is not our enemy.”
He’s Just Plain Evil
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That didn’t sit well with many Americans, including John W. Dean, former counsel to President Nixon, who said: “Gosar is an evil s.o.b. Not to mention sick. He does not belong in Congress.
It is understandable why his family hates him. What can those who voted for him be thinking?”
Gotta Keep Them Out
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Montana Republican Matt Rosendale isn’t too thrilled with Biden, either, and wants to use America’s military might to protect its border with Mexico.
Biden Is Compromised
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Says Rosendale, “I have major concerns about a compromised president of the United States who is sending incredible support to a less-than-forthright president of the Ukraine.”
He Has a Target
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And former North Carolina Republic representative Madison Cawthorn has taken direct aim at Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, too.
He Thinks Zelenskyy Is a Thug
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This is a long-held belief, too, dating from 2018: “Remember that Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and it is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.”
They United against Him
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That didn’t sit well with everyone, including members of Cawthorn’s own party. North Carolina Chuck Edwards said in response to Cawthorn: “We must unite as a nation to pray for President Zelenskyy and the brave people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and their freedom. Anything less is counter to everything we stand for in America.”
Putin Is Totally Reasonable
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Washington Republican Joe Kent takes it a step further than Cawthorn, though, saying Russia’s demands were “very reasonable” and not really even demands at all.
He Wants Ukraine to Back Down
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Right at the start of the war, Kent said, “…we must urge Ukraine to accept these terms. These are very reasonable requests & a path to ending the killing & avoiding further escalation.”
No One Is Safe with Her
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Georgia Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene drew some unsavory historical comparisons among her many outrageous claims. She even pulled NATO into the fray.
Does the World Need a Nazi Hashtag?
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Says Greene: “And to top it all off, NATO has been supplying the neo-Nazis in Ukraine with powerful weapons and extensive training on how to use them. What the hell is going with these #NATONazis?”
He Thinks Americans Are Wrong
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Kevin McCarthy himself, despite being critical of Trump, thinks the American people may be misguided in their support of Ukraine. According to him, it may not last.
They’ll Regret Supporting Ukraine
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Says McCarthy, “I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine. They just won’t do it. […] It’s not a free blank check.”
Russia Doesn’t Deserve Punishment
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Former representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii thinks America is off-base for trying to sanction Russia.
She even renounced the Democratic Party and has since registered herself as an independent.
Poor Putin!
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Her take: “They are doing so by waging this modern-day siege against Russia, isolating, containing, destroying their economy, starving the Russian people in the hope that the Russian people or the military will rise up and revolt and overthrow their government, and get rid of Putin.”
She’s a Putin Puppet
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Gabbard has taken plenty of backlash for her about-face, though.
Alexander Vindman, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, called her “an agent of Russian disinformation; you promote Russian aggression and endanger America.”
He’s Never Liked Them
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Ohio representative Jim Jordan doesn’t think there’s much to like about Ukraine, an opinion that he’s held for several years.
Corruption in Their DNA
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Jordan doesn’t pull any punches: “We’re talking Ukraine . . . one of the three most corrupt countries on the planet. Corruption is not just prevalent in Ukraine—it’s the system!”
(This is false. The three most corrupt countries in the world, as ranked by the Corruption Perceptions Index, are South Sudan, Somalia, and Syria. Ukraine is ranked as less corrupt than Russia by a margin of several points.)
They Can Take Care of Themselves
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Meanwhile, Kentucky senator Rand Paul doesn’t think the U.S. should make Ukraine a priority.
He wants Americans to focus on problems closer to home and let the Europeans take care of themselves.
Follow the Money
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Rand focuses on the economy: “No matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America. We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy.”
They Just Won’t Stop!
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If all this isn’t enough to fire you up, here are a few more quotes from U.S. politicians that seem to fly in the face of Americans’ support for Ukraine.
Trump Can’t Stop Gushing!
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“If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia.” – Donald Trump
Lavishing Praise on an Authoritarian Despot
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“[Putin is] taking over a country for two dollars worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart.” – Donald Trump
He Doesn’t Care about Genocide
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“I gotta be honest with you, I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.” –Senator J.D. Vance (Republican, Ohio)
Let Them Eat Cake!
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“No Republican should vote for any money for Ukraine. $0 for Ukraine.” –Trump White House Strategist Steve Bannon
Sorry Not Sorry
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“I’m more concerned with the US-Mexico border than the Russia-Ukraine border. Not sorry.” –Representative Matt Gaetz (Republican, Florida)
She Knows All about Them
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“I’m kind of confused why they’re telling us to stand with Ukraine when it seems that everybody affiliated or standing with Ukraine is either transgender, a Satanist, or a straight up Nazi.” –Former Senate Candidate Lauren Witzke (Republican, Delaware)
When All Else Fails, Blame Hillary
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“Zelensky is a globalist puppet for Soros and the Clintons.” –State Senator Wendy Rogers (Republican, Arizona)
The War Rages On
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As the war rages on, Ukraine has continued to batter Russian forces, seeking to find weak spots in their defensive lines so they can retake the land that was brutally taken from them in Russia’s bloody war of aggression.
The State of Affairs
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Ukraine’s armed forces are currently in the midst of their summer offensive, which has seen modest territorial gains but significant success in wearing down Russian soldiers’ morale and, perhaps even more importantly, their artillery capabilities.
Artillery Is Key
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Artillery is one of the primary tools that Russia has been using to defend its ill-gotten gains.
If Ukraine can destroy enough Russian artillery systems, it is possible that Ukraine’s so-far modest advancements on the battlefield could become much more decisive.
A Democracy Battles for Survival
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The world watches with bated breath to see the outcome of Ukraine’s war of survival. Will their country emerge from the crucible of war victorious against the Russian aggressors?
Only time will tell.
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