[guest post by Dana]

From the President of the United States:

Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the U.S. and “TRUMP,” will never be able to settle. The United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back. Why didn’t Sleepy Joe Biden demand Equalization, in that this War is far more important to Europe than it is to us — We have a big, beautiful Ocean as separation. On top of this, Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is “MISSING.” He refuses to have Elections, is very low in Ukrainian Polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden “like a fiddle.” A Dictator without Elections, Zelenskyy better move fast or he is not going to have a Country left. In the meantime, we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only “TRUMP,” and the Trump Administration, can do. Biden never tried, Europe has failed to bring Peace, and Zelenskyy probably wants to keep the “gravy train” going. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job, his Country is shattered, and MILLIONS have unnecessarily died – And so it continues…..

I just want to make a few points about this bucket full of smoldering slop that Trump has served up. You can do your own investigation into the balance of things he said above.

First, it’s hilarious that a TV reality host, who has never been tested by war, believes that he has more stature and gravitas than a comedian who has been tested by war, and after almost 3 years of it, still maintains a robust 63% approval rating, while the reality host’s approval rating slipped to 44%. [The share of Americans who disapprove of his presidency has risen more substantially, to 51% in the latest poll, compared with 41% right after he took office.]

Second, Trump, repeating Russian propaganda, continues to blame the victim. He doesn’t even mention the obvious fact that it is PUTIN who began the war with his illegal invasion of Ukraine. And it is PUTIN who continues the war. For the thousandth time, defending one’s homeland from a ruthless invader is not starting a war.

Third, to Trump’s greedy little mind, recouping monetary “losses” and then some, is the only priority. His priorities render him unable to understand that by us aiding a sovereign nation which embraces democracy and also preventing it from being subsumed by one of the world’s leading anti-democratic murderous regimes, helps keep the rest of the Western world safe. It also sends a powerful warning to other evil authoritarian leaders around the world.

Fourth, Trump’s stupidity is mind-numbing: no accusations made about Putin being a dictator, but accusations made that Zelensky, who was freely elected by the Ukrainian people, is the dictator. Additionally, Trump ignores that because Ukraine is under Martial law, elections cannot be held. Moreover, Zelensky has said that he doesn’t even know if he will run again, as it depends on the outcome of the war.

Importantly:

We looked closely at the question of elections in Ukraine when I was at the NSC. To state the obvious it is highly problematic when parts of the country are occupied, there is displacement of people from other parts, & Russia is bombing it constantly.

The main worry wasn’t that Zelenskyy would lose but that his victory would not be seen as legitimate because of the disruption of the war. The opposition had concerns. It would also likely hamper wartime decision making.

Elections are often suspended for countries at war— e.g. UK during WW II. One of Putin’s main talking points is that Zelenskyy is not legitimate. This is because he wants to undermine and ultimately remove him. It’s important we are clear eyed about what’s happening.

It should also be noted that all parties considering a run in the next presidential election agree that the next election shouldn’t take place until six months after Martial law is lifted.

Fifth, as Trump touts the ongoing negotiations to end the war, which Ukraine is not even involved in, he fails to mention that the war could end RIGHT NOW if Putin just stopped doing what he is doing. That’s all. Just call it a day, hand back occupied territories, take his troops home, and never look back. That’s the fastest way for this war to end. This unnecessary war that PUTIN alone started, could end immediately if Putin CHOSE to end it. And why doesn’t Trump ever mention this? Because that isn’t what Putin wants him to say. So, as Trump prostrates himself in submission to Putin, there is silence from his supporters and silence from Republicans in Congress because they are all too are busy prostrating themselves before Trump. [Ed. I saw a slightly different version of the “prostrating themselves” comment by someone pointing out the report in The Atlantic, but lost my bookmark to link it. Apologies.]

Our betrayal of Ukraine before the world is shameful and embarrassing. That Americans elected a president who sides with Russia and parrots their propaganda is still shocking. Everyone, except for Trump and his cronies, understand that Putin is evil and not to be trusted at any cost:

It’s a hellish thing to have one’s country be invaded by a madman. It’s an almost equally hellish thing to be abandoned by a madman of a different stripe, who leads the most powerful nation in the world, and yet deceitfully continues to blame the victim for starting the war in the first place.

—Dana