In the face of the brutal, unnecessary war the Russian president continues to wage on Ukraine, Donald Trump refuses to stop cozying up to dictators like Vladimir Putin, even saying he might have let Russia “take over” parts of Ukraine.

Donald Trump seems to never have anything but praise for the Russian dictator, undermining democracy and our allies.

Donald Trump, April 2023: “I got along very well with Putin.”

Donald Trump, February 2023: “I actually had a very good relationship.”

Washington Post, February 2022: “‘Genius,’ ‘Savvy’: Trump reacts to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine exactly as you’d expect”

Donald Trump, February 2022: “In an interview on ‘The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,’ Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics in eastern Ukraine on Monday was ‘smart’ and ‘pretty savvy.’ ‘I said, ‘How smart is that?’ He’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper,’ added Trump, who regularly praised and sought close ties with Putin during his time in office. ‘That’s the strongest peace force. We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re going to keep peace, all right.’”

Donald Trump, February 2022: “Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper… Here’s a guy who’s very savvy.”

Trump has even openly said he might have let Putin “take over” parts of Ukraine. 

Daily Beast: “Fox News Edits Out Trump Saying He Might’ve Let Russia ‘Take Over’ Parts of Ukraine”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump repeated a frequent riff, saying that ‘both sides are weary and ready to make a deal’ and that the ‘death and destruction must end now.’ Mr. Trump has already said he would let Russia ‘take over’ parts of Ukraine in a negotiated deal.”