The leader of the GOP did not embrace Putin (or other despots) out of ignorance. He knew what they did. And he admired it. He would "joke" he wished he could brutalize the press like they did. He wanted to suppress dissent like they did. He wanted to shoot peaceful protestors...
...and send in the 82d Airborne division against BLM protestors. He defended right wing thugs. He encouraged people at his rallies to use violence against those with political views. He welcomed and defended Russian attacks on our democracy.
Trump tried to block sanctions against Russia for its abuses and railed furiously when they were imposed against Russia for using chemical weapons against Putin's enemies in the UK. Trump promoted a coup against American democracy.
Trump's own cabinet members stated his plan was to pull the U.S. out of NATO. He was impeached for withholding aid to Ukraine (and he sought to support pro-Russian actors within Ukraine against pro-Western reformers.)
Let's not pretend that Trump or the GOP were accidentally promoting Putin or doing it just to own the libs. Let's not pretend they're doing it now casually or unaware of what they're really supporting. Know that it was not only conscious but part of a long-standing pattern.
They are all one team. They are all one threat. And every little bit of pro-Putin spin--every GOP official who attacks Zelensky or suggests the gas price spikes driven by Putin's war have something to do with the current administration--is part of that effort & deadly dangerous.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
