In response to Donald Trump doubling down on a dangerous foreign policy agenda that puts Putin over our allies, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Donald Trump threatened to be a ‘dictator’ on ‘day one,’ and now he’s siding with foreign adversaries like Vladimir Putin over America’s allies. There’s a reason why so many military leaders — including his own former chief of staff — think Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda makes us all less safe. Between parroting Putin’s talking points and pausing aid to Ukraine, Trump has shown that he is incapable of standing up to despots on the world stage and protecting America’s national security. Trump is pledging allegiance to the wrong red, white, and blue.”

Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine shortly after parroting Kremlin propaganda in the Oval Office, embarrassing himself and the United States on the world stage. 

NBC News: “President Donald Trump’s decision to pause American military aid to Ukraine is handing Russia’s Vladimir Putin the upper hand on the battlefield and in geopolitical negotiations, former officials and experts warned Tuesday.”

CNN: “Never before has an American president verbally attacked his visitor like Trump did Zelensky, leading to an almost real-time breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv. Trump at one point threatened to give up on Ukraine entirely. …

“Again and again, Trump has sided with Putin. But with voices raised in the Oval Office, Trump unleashed years of pent-up frustration toward Russia and Ukraine, which led to his first impeachment.”

New York Times: “Trump Elevates Kremlin Talking Points, a Familiar Pattern From His First Term”

Politico: “The Kremlin on Sunday cheered the shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, saying the American view now ‘largely coincides’ with Russia’s take on geopolitics.

“Trump has upended U.S. policy on Ukraine in recent weeks and sought a more conciliatory approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, echoing Moscow’s talking points and recently accusing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of obstructing efforts to resolve the conflict started by Putin’s unprovoked invasion. In contrast, former U.S. President Joe Biden led efforts to support Kyiv against the Russian forces attacking Ukraine.”

Trump — who has repeatedly praised Putin — said he would have let Russia “take over” parts of Ukraine and threatened to let them “do whatever the hell they want” to our NATO allies.

CNN: “Trump says he would encourage Russia to ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to any NATO country that doesn’t pay enough”

Washington Post: “Former president Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory… Some foreign policy experts said Trump’s idea would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin and condone the violation of internationally recognized borders by force. …

“Trump has consistently complimented Putin, expressed admiration for his dictatorial rule and gone out of his way to avoid criticizing him, most recently for the death in jail of political opponent Alexei Navalny.”

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

“[Trump] revealed how he personally would have prevented the war. According to Trump, all he needed to do was let Russia ‘take over’ parts of Ukraine.”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump often praises Mr. Putin — he has described the invasion of Ukraine as the work of a ‘genius’ — and has long admired him as a ‘strong’ leader.”

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

REMINDER: Military leaders — including Trump’s own former chief of staff — slammed Trump’s dangerous foreign policy agenda and failure to protect American national security interests.

CNN: “‘A person that has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about. A person who cavalierly suggests that a selfless warrior who has served his country for 40 years in peacetime and war should lose his life for treason – in expectation that someone will take action. A person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators. A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. ‘There is nothing more that can be said,’ Kelly concluded. ‘God help us.’”

CNN: “Retired Marine Gen. John Allen: Trump’s threats of military force may be ‘the beginning of the end of the American experiment’”

CNN: “Former Trump Defense Secretary General James Mattis said Trump ‘has no moral compass’ and was ‘dangerous’ and ‘unfit’ for office.”

Washington Post: “Mattis resigned after Trump directed him ‘to do something that I thought went beyond stupid to felony stupid, strategically jeopardizing our place in the world and everything else.’”

The Hill: “A retired four-star Army general said that he believes that President Trump is a ‘serious threat to US national security.’”