Once Again Trump Makes a Decision That Aides Russia
Over the years, he's fabricated no secret that he has a soft spot for the land and its disciplinarian leader, President Vladimir Putin. Trump has proved that he is willing to turn down widely held US foreign policy views and align himself with the Kremlin on everything from Russian interference in Us elections to the war in Syria.
Most recently, Trump has denied the veracity of The states intelligence reports accusing Russia of paying bounties to Taliban fighters to kill The states troops in Afghanistan. Pressed on the topic during an interview with Axios that was released on Midweek, Trump said he did non raise the issue during a recent phone call with Putin, and continued to advise that the reports are "fake news."
During the 2016 campaign, Trump's ties to Russians were then concerning that the FBI believed there was expert reason to investigate potential bunco between his 2016 entrada and the Kremlin. Counterintelligence investigators also examined whether Trump himself was somehow a Russian asset. (Special counsel Robert Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy of collusion.)
In Trump'due south optics, these allegations are proof of a conspiracy against him by Democratic lawmakers and other "deep state" enemies within the U.s. authorities. He has bombastically declared, "There's never been a president as tough on Russia as I take been" -- a dubious claim that he repeated during the Russian bounties scandal.
But Trump's narrative is simply imitation, based on his own actions over the last few years. Hither'due south a breakup of 37 occasions when Trump was soft on Russia or gave Putin a boost.
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin
While he was a private denizen, during his 2016 entrada and throughout his presidency, Trump has showered Putin with praise. He said Putin was "and so squeamish," he called Putin a "strong leader" and said Putin has done "a really great task outsmarting our country." Trump also claimed he'd "get along very well" with Putin. Few, if any, Western leaders have echoed these comments.
Trump hired Manafort to run his campaign
Trump raised eyebrows in spring 2016 when he hired GOP operative Paul Manafort to run his presidential campaign. Manafort spent a decade working for pro-Russian politicians and parties in Ukraine and cultivated close relationships with Putin-friendly oligarchs. Manafort was sentenced in 2019 to 7.five years prison house for, among other things, evading taxes on the $lx million he had made in Ukraine. (He was released to house arrest in May 2020 amid coronavirus concerns.)
Trump suggested Russian federation tin can continue Crimea
Trump said Putin did "an amazing chore of taking the pall" when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. During the 2016 presidential entrada, Trump broke with The states policy and suggested he was OK if Russia kept the Ukrainian territory. He repeated a Kremlin talking point, saying, "The people of Crimea, from what I've heard, would rather exist with Russia than where they were."
Trump aides softened GOP platform on Ukraine
Ahead of the 2016 Republican National Convention, Trump campaign aides blocked linguistic communication from the political party platform that called for the United states government to send lethal weapons to Ukraine for its war confronting Russian proxies. Mueller investigated this for potential bunco but adamant the modify was not fabricated "at the behest" of Russian federation. (The Trump administration ultimately gave lethal arms and anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian military.)
Trump made lite of Russian hacking
Throughout the 2016 campaign, Trump cast doubt on the US government assessment that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and Autonomous nominee Hillary Clinton's entrada chairman. At a news conference in July 2016, he even asked Russia to hack more than, proverb, "Russia, if you lot're listening, I hope you lot're able to notice the xxx,000 emails that are missing,"
Trump capitalized on Russian meddling to win
Instead of condemning Russia for hacking and leaking Democratic emails, Trump eagerly capitalized on the Kremlin's meddling, and used the emails to attack Clinton on a near-daily ground in the last stretch of the campaign. The Mueller report said Trump'due south entrada "expected information technology would do good electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts" and that summit officials believed they had inside information about WikiLeaks, so they planned a strategy around the expected release of hacked emails.
Trump denied that Russian federation interfered in 2016
The Function of the Managing director of National Intelligence, the FBI, the CIA, the National Security Bureau, the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the Senate Intelligence Commission all confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. Simply Trump has repeatedly rejected this view, and publicly sided with Putin at the Helsinki elevation in 2018, maxim he accepted Putin's denials.
Trump transition undermined Russian sanctions
Afterward the 2016 ballot, the Trump transition team asked Russia not to retaliate likewise strongly confronting new United states of america sanctions imposed by and then-President Barack Obama. The sanctions were intended to punish Russia for interfering in the ballot, but then-Trump aide Michael Flynn asked the Russian ambassador not to escalate the situation so they could take a good relationship once Trump took over.
Trump was open to lifting Russian sanctions
Days before his inauguration, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he was open to lifting sanctions on Russian federation. He said: "If you get forth and if Russia is really helping u.s., why would everyone have sanctions if somebody's doing some really great things?" Putin has tried for years to persuade the U.s. and European countries to end crippling sanctions on Russian federation's economy.
Trump refused to say Putin is a killer
Bucking other U.s. leaders, Trump has dismissed credible allegations that Putin uses violence against his opponents. Trump said in 2015, "I think it would be despicable if that took identify, just I haven't seen any evidence that he killed anybody, in terms of reporters." Asked once again in February 2017, Trump deflected, saying, "There are a lot of killers. Do you think our country is so innocent?"
Trump mulled returning spy bases to Russia
The Washington Post reported in May 2017 that the Trump administration considered returning two diplomatic compounds to Russia. The Obama administration expelled Russian diplomats and seized the compounds in New York and Maryland after the 2016 election, claiming they were used for "intelligence" purposes. The compounds were never returned to Russia.
Trump gave Russia classified intelligence
In a shocking move during the early months of his presidency, Trump shared highly classified intelligence with 2 senior Russian officials during an Oval Office meeting in May 2017. The intelligence, which was most ISIS, was sensitive enough that it could take exposed a vulnerable source. The unplanned disclosure by Trump rattled even many of his Republican allies.
Trump criticized and alienated NATO allies
Trump has repeatedly attacked NATO, aligning himself with Putin, who wants to weaken the alliance. Trump said NATO was "obsolete," rattling European leaders. At his first NATO summit in May 2017, Trump scolded other countries for non spending enough on defense and declined to commit to NATO's common defence force pledge. (Trump later said he supported the mutual defense provision.) He has also said he wanted to withdraw from NATO, according to The New York Times, though it hasn't happened.
Trump was reluctant to sign Russian sanctions
Lawmakers passed a bipartisan pecker in July 2017 imposing new sanctions against Russia, even though Trump administration officials reportedly tried to water downwardly the language. Trump reluctantly signed the bill, only claimed the new law contained "clearly unconstitutional provisions." Trump had little choice in the matter considering the bill had passed with veto-proof majorities: 419-three in the House and 98-2 in the Senate. (The Treasury Section followed upwards with several rounds of hard-hitting sanctions.)
Trump proposed a cyber unit with Russia
After the July 2017 coming together of G20 leaders, Trump said he had spoken with Putin about "forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit" to gainsay "election hacking." Trump quickly backtracked afterwards lawmakers from both parties said information technology would be ridiculous to piece of work with Russia on cybersecurity because Russia was responsible for egregious hacks against American targets, including during the 2016 election.
Trump thanked Putin for expelling United states of america diplomats
Trump thanked Putin for expelling hundreds of US diplomats from Russia in August 2017, maxim, "I want to thank him because we're trying to cut down our payroll." Putin kicked out the officials to retaliate against Us sanctions. Trump's comments conflicted with the State Department, which said the mass expulsion was "uncalled for." (Trump subsequently said he was being sarcastic.)
Trump eased sanctions on Deripaska
The Treasury Section in 2018 sanctioned Russian oligarch and Putin ally Oleg Deripaska, along with three companies linked to him, over his support for Russian interference in the 2016 election. Merely by Jan 2019, the Trump administration lifted some of these sanctions. In a bipartisan rebuke, xi Senate Republicans supported a Democratic resolution calling for the sanctions to remain.
Trump congratulated Putin on his sham election
Ignoring the advice of several top national security aides, Trump congratulated Putin on his March 2018 reelection victory. Putin got 77% of the vote, but Western observers declared that the election "lacked genuine contest" and took identify in an "overly controlled legal and political environment." Trump's critics said he had given the election legitimacy information technology did not deserve.
Trump balked at sanctions for Skripal poisoning
Trump privately complained about US sanctions intended to punish Russia after ane of its ex-spies was poisoned in the United Kingdom, according to Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton. The US and Great britain blamed Russian federation for trying to assassinate the defector, Sergei Skripal. After the sanctions were appear in August 2018, Trump tried to rescind them and said the US was "being as well tough on Putin," co-ordinate to Bolton'due south memoir.
Trump nixed US argument about Russian state of war
In summertime 2018, Trump blocked his administration from releasing a statement on the 10th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war, according to Bolton'due south memoir. Bolton said European leaders noticed Trump's silence and "became even more concerned about American resolve." Russia invaded its neighbor Georgia during the five-mean solar day war in 2008, and still occupies 2 breakaway territories.
Trump praised pro-Russian leaders in Europe
On several occasions, Trump has praised controversial far-right European leaders who have been shunned by near U.s. officials because of their close ties to Putin. Trump met at the White Business firm with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a top Kremlin marry. He praised the campaign of French politician Marine Le Pen, whose party previously got millions from a Russian bank.
Trump didn't publicly condemn Russian attack
According to congressional testimony, Trump declined to publicly condemn a Russian assault confronting Ukrainian military vessels in November 2018, even though the State Department prepared a statement for him. Secretarial assistant of State Mike Pompeo criticized Russian federation's "dangerous escalation." The White Firm didn't say anything, but Trump canceled a coming together with Putin.
Trump dedicated Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
During a Jan 2019 Cabinet meeting, Trump dedicated the Soviet Union's invasion of Transitional islamic state of afghanistan. He said the Soviet Union "was right" to invade in 1979 considering "terrorists were going into Russian federation." The comments puzzled many observers, who noted that the Soviets had invaded to bolster a communist government and the The states had backed Afghan militants who fought the Soviets.
Trump asked allies to permit Russian federation back in the G7
Breaking with American allies, Trump repeatedly called for Russia to be invited dorsum into the Group of Seven. Russia was suspended from the working group of leading industrial nations in 2014 afterwards Putin annexed Crimea. At the August 2019 G7 top in French republic, Trump pressed the other leaders to include Russia at the 2020 gathering. They balked at the request, which would take handed a huge victory to Putin without any concessions.
Trump's Syria withdrawal gave Putin a boost
Trump announced in October 2019 that US troops were withdrawing from northern Syria. The abrupt move cleared the manner for Turkey to conquer territories previously controlled by the US and centrolineal Kurdish militias. It also gave Russia a golden opportunity to aggrandize its influence and swiftly take over abandoned US outposts and checkpoints. Trump's move was a boon for Putin.
Trump repeated Kremlin talking points on ISIS
After announcing the Syria withdrawal, Trump repeated Kremlin talking points nearly ISIS. He said, "Russian federation hates ISIS as much as the United States does" and that they are equal partners in the fight. Only Trump's comments don't reflect the reality on the ground: Since intervening in Syrian arab republic in 2015, the Russian armed forces has focused its airstrikes on anti-government rebels, not ISIS.
Trump spread Russian myths most Ukraine
During his impeachment proceedings in 2019 and early on 2020, Trump said many imitation things about Ukraine that align with Russian disinformation nigh the country. This includes claims of uncontrollable corruption, improper ties betwixt Ukrainian officials and the Obama assistants, and allegations that Ukraine meddled in The states elections. This helps Putin's goal of destabilizing US-Ukraine relations.
Trump temporarily froze United states of america aid for Ukraine
Equally the impeachment inquiry revealed, Trump personally froze $391 1000000 in US military and security assistance for Ukraine in mid-2019. U.s.a. diplomats said Ukraine desperately needed the assistance for its state of war against Russian proxies. Previously, the Trump administration had tiresome-walked sales of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine because of concerns information technology would upset Russian federation, co-ordinate to a Land Department official.
Trump smeared US ambassador to Ukraine
For more than than a year, Trump privately and publicly attacked Marie Yovanovitch, who was the US ambassador to Ukraine until he recalled her in spring 2019. One of Russia's goals is to weaken the US-Ukraine brotherhood -- Trump played into that past smearing Yovanovitch and undermining her diplomatic work in Ukraine. Her ouster was a major function of Trump's impeachment.
Trump considered visiting Putin on Russian soil
Trump said in Nov 2019 that he was thinking about visiting Russian federation, at Putin's invitation, to attend a 2020 war machine parade in Moscow. The U.s. government has repeatedly chosen out Russian federation's aggressive moves around the earth, so a visit from a sitting Usa president would be highly unusual. Obama fabricated the last visit in 2013, when relations were warmer, before Russia invaded Ukraine. After months of speculation, Trump declined the invitation, as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc around the world.
Trump gave Putin a PR victory on Covid-19
As the coronavirus pandemic exploded in spring 2020, the US accepted a large delivery of medical supplies from Russia, which were flown into New York Urban center. Trump thanked Putin for the "very nice offer," even while diplomats sparred over whether the equipment had been donated or purchased. Regardless, experts said the stunt was a propaganda bonanza for the Kremlin.
Trump invited Russia to 2020 G7 meridian
Trump announced in May 2020 that he was postponing the Us-based G7 meridian because of the coronavirus and that he also wanted to extend invitations to Russia and three other countries to participate. Other G7 leaders swiftly rejected Trump'south idea to invite Putin, because Russia notwithstanding hasn't withdrawn from Crimea and has continued its ambitious deportment around the world.
Trump directed CIA to share intel with Russia
Trump directed the Central Intelligence Agency to share more counterterrorism intelligence with Russia, according to the national security website Just Security, which cited ii sometime CIA officials who had served nether Trump. The officials said the Us received nil in return, which is consistent with past intelligence-sharing with Russia.
Trump ignored warnings of Russian bounties
The President was repeatedly told during in-person briefings and in written intelligence reports in 2019 and 2020 that the US regime believed Russian federation paid bounties to Afghan militants to kill Americans, according to CNN and other outlets. Despite being given this information, Trump did not publicly condemn Russian federation or take any retaliatory deportment. Trump has denied receiving any briefings on the topic.
Trump chosen Russian bounty story a 'hoax'
Rejecting the findings from US intelligence agencies, Trump said allegations that Russia paid Taliban militants to kill US troops were "another hoax" that was "made up by simulated news." Past proverb he doesn't believe the allegations against Russia, Trump publicly sided with the Kremlin, which denies paying any bounties.
Trump never raised Russian bounties with Putin
After Trump was briefed on the Russian bounties, and later on the story was revealed by the press, he had several phone calls with Putin. But Trump never raised the topic of bounties with Putin during these calls, never told Putin to stop and never threatened any retaliation. "That'south an consequence that many people said was faux news. ... I have never discussed it with him," Trump said in a July 2020 interview with Axios.
Trump ordered US troops out of Germany
In June 2020, Trump approved plans to significantly reduce the number of US troops in Deutschland. The program to remove well-nigh 1-third of the strength drew serious concerns from the Pentagon considering it could compromise Europe-based defenses against Russian federation. In a letter to Trump, nearly ii dozen Republican lawmakers said his decision would "strengthen the position of Russia to our detriment."
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/17/politics/trump-soft-on-russia/index.html
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