Trump praises Putin for his move into Ukraine, calling it 'genius'

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
(Image credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin two thumbs up for his decision to recognize two breakaway regions of Ukraine and send troops to the areas.

While Putin's actions have received sharp criticism and sanctions from President Biden, Trump was full of praise for the Russian leader. During an interview on the conservative Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Trump said it was "wonderful," "so smart," and even "genius" for Putin to "declare a big portion of the Ukraine ... as independent." He claimed Putin will now "go in" and "be a peacekeeper." While Putin has said he's sending troops to the breakaway regions as part of a "peacekeeping" mission, Western leaders say he is merely making it easier for Russia to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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His comments were brushed off by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. "As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there," Psaki told reporters on Tuesday. "And that's probably why President Biden and not his predecessor was able to rally the world and the global community and taking steps against Russia's aggression."

Trump also received pushback from Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who tweeted that his "adulation of Putin today — calling him a 'genius' — aids our enemies. Trump's interests don't seem to align with the interests of the United States of America."

Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.