Bad Trump emerges over Ukraine war
In a recent commentary, I expressed my hope that President Trump was sidling up to Putin as a negotiating tactic – a fake to the left before returning to a moderate position regarding a peace deal to end the Ukraine war. Based on Trump’s more recent statements, I fear my hope was misplaced.
I have long separated Trump personality from Trump policy. His approach to Ukraine represents a double fault, however. His pro-Putin policy is beyond wrong. It is tragic.
And now Trump’s worse personality traits have emerged – an abundance of pugnacity and mixed in with a lack of veracity. Trump has recently – and absurdly – blamed Ukraine for starting the war. He has called Ukrainian President Zelenskyy a dictator since he is operating under martial law – in accordance with the Ukrainian constitution. Trump has mocked Zelenskyy as a comedian (based on his television sit-com career). Trump claims that Zelenskyy could have prevented the war by making a deal with Putin at the onset. In other words, Trump thinks Zelenskyy should have been a Putin puppet like the leaders of other pro-Russian nations.
Trump’s comments are untrue and outrageous – especially when you view them in comparison to his comments about Putin, who IS a maniacal dictator, a murderer, a warmonger, a war criminal and an avowed enemy of NATO, the world democracies and, most notably, the United States.
It is not difficult to differentiate between a good guy (Zelenskyy) and a bad guy (Putin) … a friend (Zelensky) and an adversary (Putin) … and ally (Ukraine) and enemy (Russia). It is just that simple.
Some Americans believe in extreme isolationism. They say that the war in Ukraine is of no concern to America. Unfortunately, Trump’s statements and positions on Ukraine aid and abet that narrow-minded, short-sighted thinking. In past commentaries, I have delineated the broad range of SPECIFIC dangers to American security and leadership should Putin be allowed to win.
Any peace agreement that leaves Putin gaining any part of Ukraine is a victory for him. Any peace agreement that blocks Ukraine from joining NATO is a victory for Putin. Any peace agreement that does not force Russia to pay reparations for the lost lives and severe damage is a victory for Putin.
Based solely on Trump’s stated plan for peace, Putin is seeing victory. It has been reported that on February 24th – the three year anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine – he plans to make an official announcement declaring his victory over Ukraine and NATO.
And why not? Putin has seen Trump’s peace plan — and It gives Putin the victory … period.
But that does not mean all is lost. Zelenskyy has so far wisely rejected the Trump plan (which is why Trump is so pissed at Zelenskyy). There are still a lot of NATO nations willing and able to support Ukraine – to make up for whatever the United States does not do.
In addition, most members of Congress support Ukraine. There is a large enough bipartisan coalition to pass a bill to aid Ukraine with money and equipment – even enough members to override a presidential veto. Senator Lindsey supports putting Ukrainian aide in any budget bill that comes from the House.
Unfortunately, House Speaker Johnson has recently said he “has no appetite” for more war funding. He said it was time to end the war. The influential Elon Musk has called the war a “graft machine”. The sad truth of American politics is that leaders can bend the opinions of their team. That may just be what happens in this situation.
If Putin is able to claim victory, it may seem like a restoration of peace. In reality, it will be the reason Putin will use his restored military to grab more geography in the future. It will be the point at which the United States will have lost the world leadership it has held since the end of World War II. The Trump surrender plan will not make America great again. That will be up to some future President – and Trump will have made that more difficult.
So, there ‘tis.
Let’s say, Mexico sent neo-Nazi troops to kill Mexican nationals living in Texas using their analog to Azov Battalion troops. Would President Trump not be behooved to deal with this militarily? President Putin has been dealing with Russian nationals living in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk who have been systematically attacked for ten years by forces under Zelenky’s control. Is he not entitled to defend these people, as Trump would defend Mexican-Americans living in Texas under attack from Mexico? Furthermore, Putin warned Zelensky that any attempts to bring NATO into a defensive alliance with Ukraine would threaten Russian security. Zelensky proceeded with such overtures.
So, calling this an unprovoked attack by Russia on Ukraine is at the very least a distortion of reality.
You remain an idiot. And one that has zero concept of even how to negotiate.
Worse, you continue to employ the same demagoguery as the Democrats. You should look to logic and separate strategy from tactics, and not the “It makes me feel bad so it is bad” concept.
I knew this piece was doomed from the headline employing the tactics of a 3 year old.
Last point: You can’t claim Putin has “seen Trump’s peace plan.” I’d argue no one has. At best, you may have seen a few trial balloons. What Putin sees it shit like this article, and they MAY lead him to think what you conclude.
But you do not know. Nor does Vladimir. Nor does Vlodymyr. It’s a process. One of which you are wholly ignorant.
Stop spreading your ignorance.
BobM: same process he used in Syria? In Afghanistan? Or the raid in Yemen for his untold first loss of our Navy Seal in his first month as King. Or the four Green Berets he lost later that year in Niger where he told the parents: “hey, they know what they signed on for….” Yeah, Trump cannon fodder and not even an memo announcing the loss. He does blame others for each of these losses, as is the way for Captain Bonespur.
Or how about his economic dealmaking, the latest being Canada or Mexico where he made the big threat and then marketing the big win which was no change from Biden…… But it did have a Trump “brand new” sticker on it. Had some leftover from the NAFTA charade.
I agree with you on one thing: we don’t have a fucking clue what’s going on, what’s happening, and what the fuck our strategy, much less our plan is. It’s a blackout.
But the master dealmaker, the artist of the deal, seems to only fair well when he holds all the cards and can bully others to pretending they are listening.
Larry, while what you say in your piece above is quite true (you should be amazed to hear me saying this), the question you need to be asking yourself is “why was I so stupid as to not see this coming?” You (and others like you) are the cause of the disaster that is unfolding in DC. I realized that the Republicans had changed over 20 years ago and left the Republican Party. You were still ignoring what was happening, and denigrated those intelligent republicans who realized that trump was not fit to serve, calling them RINO’s. Those of us who were adamantly opposed to trump realized that during his first term there were some people who were putting the brakes on his worst instincts, when word came out about some of them you faulted them, but they were saving the country from the abyss that it is currently falling into. Already, just over a month into office, our standing in the world has fallen to the lowest it’s ever been, our closest Allie’s don’t trust us, and we have the richest man in the world running Willy Nilly through our government offices, and elected republicans too afraid to stop him because of the threat of being primaried. You (and others like fools like you) have caused this disaster by refusing to look at the facts and blowing up every misstep that took place in the prior administration, whether they were responsible or not. Nothing that occurred during Biden’s term remotely compares to the shit show that we have taking place now-both domestically and internationally. You are responsible and need to take blame for your part in getting this imbecile elected..
Mike f…. You do not get it — like most left-wingers. First of all, I saw this coming. Trump, during the campaign, had said he wanted to end the war with concessions to Putin. No surprise, but still disappointing, On the other hand, I think Trump is right on most other important policies … immigration, cutting the federal bureaucracy, deregulation, Israel, terrorism, taxes, DEI and woke stuff. You never get everything, But I would vote for him today compared to what the Dems did and offered. The over reactions, whining and hyperventilating by Democrats and left-wing media personalities is of no importance to me. That was to be expected.
Typical right wing nonsense, Larry your vision is impaired. Can’t you see that what the President is doing?
It’s a not a good thing that Trump made campaign promises that are flagrantly unconstitutional and not within the Presidential empowerment. Now that Trump is President his over the top anti-democracy policies made into Executive Orders prove he is awfully and extremely out of touch with reality.
Can you say with a straight face that Trump is mentally in control of all that’s the US President’s responsibility to not only to MAGA Republicans’ and the 2025 Project’s authors.
If Trump continues as he has for his first weeks as POTUS there’s going to be an accounting. He thinks he is undoing what preceding Democratic Presidents had established. He is unraveling the strong fabric that was woven by Americans over 250 years. Trump in his first term showed his true authoritarianism colors. Four years later his ideology full of angry retribution intends to burn government to the ground.
Like with his non-organized plan for American Medical Insurance as replacement for the Affordable Healthcare Act. Trump could never make it as a successful Chess competitor who needs to visually plan his game 3-5 moves in advance including contingencies for the other player’s moves. Each move on the board must be played according to International Chess Regulations. Trump does not operate by the same rules and regulations everyone else must obey or pay the consequences.
Trump strides through deep waters at home and abroad with out a working experience in diplomacy that works and believes he doesn’t get wet in the process.
Putin is planing a way through that dunks Trump. He will get soaked in defeat and blame some underling for the disaster. He will never recognize he is all wet. The sycophants he has conned will tell him he is dry and right.
Trump 2.0 gets uglier by the day. He promised changes beneficial to his working class supporters but has not delivered on his outlandishly impossible promises. Instead, Trump has removed essential government workers out of spite and fulfillment of off the wall promises.
The Republicans who follow Trump without objective consideration have Stockholm Syndrome. There is a denial that their guy Trump is screwing up big time across all departments.
It’s way to rich that you take pride in predicting Trump’s crazy impulses, but you will not see his sick views of our nations issues and the nutty remedies. Releasing water valves in California. Shooting nuclear rockets into hurricanes. Renaming the Golf of Mexico. Annexing Canada as the 51st State., and on and on.
A Republican win for President has the whole part acting punch-drunk and irrational saluting Trump.
PS: Larry, I assume you will be commenting on Bad Trump last Friday swooping to a truly unprecedented low point in the Oval Office’s history. He and Vance brutally and unforgivably ganged up on the honorable President of Ukraine on news feed camera for the whole world as audience. This behavior of Trump is not surprising and after Pres. Z. departed Trump’s comment about the diplomatic disaster that it was “good television” shows how wrong he is to be the leader of the free world.
With Trump appearing to take Putin’s side in this fight, The Donald has every intent to erase the “free” and be leader of the world.
By every measure of the Republican Party’s backing of Trump’s autocratic dictatorial first 6 weeks, it will look the other way as Trump trashes longtime alliances that created NATO. The treaty that came after the Allied Armies won WWII Is essential for security and some degree of peace. Trump has no regard for history’s weight in the standoff between Russia (ne USSR) and the U.S. of A. He doesn’t understand Putin’s history and his ruthless path to attain and keep the presidency On the other hand, he idolizes Putin. Trump’s fondest dream is to be America’s Putin.
Larry, is your opinion of Trump remains unchanged after his pugnacious personality and malevolent intent may well spell the defeat of Ukraine as he gifts that good democratic nation to Putin? The hated, feared, and generally distrusted Putin is sure to use his old friend Trump to broaden Russia’s boarders.
If Trump is not the embodiment of what the Founders’ most deeply feared, a constitutional crises that include multiple infractions involving several Amendments.
“Bad Trump” nowhere near points out the depth of his unprecedented violations of the law engraved in our nation’s Constitution for 250 years.
How desperate were and are you and the not so grand old party that you hitched your hopes for some nebulous unformed plan for a new downsized central government to the worst candidate possible for accomplishing something so audaciously nuts.
Trump will be fiddling away watching on TV and smiling with pugnacious glee as America burns.
All the while he will demand immunity from all charges and claim that Vance, Congress, and the Supreme are at fault. If others did what they were supposed to do…..
Like the song’s words say ” Stand by your man”. That will be your final legacy Trump 1.0 and 2,0 should be proof enough for to disgrace your pundit-cy.