Thursday, 29 May 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > GOP war hawks ditch Trump and America First to back Ukraine’s ‘moral battle’ against Putin
World

GOP war hawks ditch Trump and America First to back Ukraine’s ‘moral battle’ against Putin

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
GOP war hawks ditch Trump and America First to back Ukraine’s ‘moral battle’ against Putin
SHARE
Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, his hands perched atop a podium, is surrounded by a half-dozen GOP colleagues while addressing reporters at a press conference in the US Capitol.

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, surrounded by several GOP colleagues, speaks about the Russian invasion in Ukraine during a press conference at the US Capitol on March 16, 2022 in Washington, DC.Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

  • Trump’s “America First” platform shunned American involvement abroad.

  • Criticizing Putin remains verboten for the MAGA faithful.

  • The war in Ukraine has shaken awake some establishment Republicans.

Republicans held their tongues through all the ally-alienating NATO bashing Donald Trump did as president. They largely held ranks during his Ukrainian aid-related first impeachment.

The GOP of 2023 is turning into something very different. Key parts of it have shed the MAGA gag to assail Vladimir Putin for launching a war in Ukraine.

“Serial war criminal.”

“Megalomaniacal dictator.”

“Thug.”

“Loser.”

Those were just a few of the personal insults that flew from the likes of Republican Sens. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, John Cornyn of Texas, Jerry Moran of Kansas, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, respectively, as they unloaded on the Russian president at the US Capitol.

Wicker accused Putin of slaughtering tens of thousands of women and children over the years, citing his involvement in deadly campaigns including the leveling of the Chechen capital of Grozny two decades ago and the bombardment of Aleppo, Syria in 2016. “He will continue to kill innocent human beings until he’s stopped,” Wicker told reporters.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a former Trump rival who then became a key ally in Congress, said cutting Putin’s ambitions short should be everybody’s top priority.

“It is in America’s national security interest for Russia to lose because we don’t want Putin to be stronger and to take a major step towards reassembling the Soviet Union, towards threatening Americans, towards threatening our allies in Europe,” Cruz said earlier this week.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who advocated for shipping over whatever defensive weapons Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants ASAP, cast the current conflict in apocalyptic terms.

“It’s a moral battle between good guys and bad guys,” Sasse said while surrounded by a dozen colleagues at the US Capitol. “And we need the good guys to win.”

Former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018.Former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018.

Then-President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018.Yuri Kadobnov/AFP via Getty Images

It’s all a stark change from the insular “America First” strategy favored by Trump, who devoted his time in office to building walls around the country, demanded protection money from NATO allies he said were overly reliant on the US, and cut deals with the Taliban to withdraw the US from the forever war in Afghanistan.

Now as an ex-president, Trump still seemingly can’t help but cheer on the ambitious former KGB agent, just like he’s done throughout his business career and polarizing one-term presidency.

The GOP’s rhetorical dam break has gushed forth since Zelenskyy’s address to Congress, a heart-breaking appeal that garnered sympathy galore on Capitol Hill but didn’t sway lawmakers on keeping US troops off the battlefield — for now.

Another likely catalyst was Trump’s jarring praise of Putin, whom he described as “savvy” and “genius” right as Putin launched the assault on neighboring Ukraine.

The split is playing out both in the US and abroad.

Russian state television is re-running Putin-friendly segments by Fox News personality Tucker Carlson and clips of Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina calling Zelenskyy a “thug.”

Democrats are also trying to score political points off the disparity.

Left-leaning Really American PAC released an ad blasting several Republicans for singing Russia’s praises during a July 4, 2018, visit to Moscow. The lawmakers have since bashed President Joe Biden’s handling of the Ukraine crisis.

The Independence Day revelers include Republican Sens. Moran, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Richard Shelby of Alabama, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and John Thune of South Dakota.

Across the Capitol, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy continues playing clean up on all things MAGA.

Last week McCarthy called Putin “evil” to distance himself from Trump’s comments. He publicly chastised Cawthorn on Friday for the “thug” remark. And he’ll no doubt spend the next few days fielding awkward questions about the eight House Republicans who recently voted against halting normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.

Party unity is more important than ever, Cruz said, adding that he draws strength from then-President Ronald Reagan’s philosophy about the original Cold War.

“He said, ‘It’s very simple. We win, they lose,'” Cruz said in Washington. “We need that clarity to defeat Putin right now.”

Read the original article on Business Insider

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Whoopi Goldberg is only regular ‘The View’ co-host due to COVID and other absences: ‘You can’t believe the day we’ve had’ Whoopi Goldberg is only regular ‘The View’ co-host due to COVID and other absences: ‘You can’t believe the day we’ve had’
Next Article Fact check: Video does not show South Sudan president apologizing after Putin threat Fact check: Video does not show South Sudan president apologizing after Putin threat

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

As China Rattles Sabers, Taiwan Asks: Are We Ready for War?

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine has jolted Taiwan into confronting the specter…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Gisele Bündchen, Ivanka Trump & Karlie Kloss Meet Up on Costa Rica Seashore

Gisele, Ivanka & Karlie Assembly of the Minds & Our bodies in Costa Rica ...…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Howey: Why should Hoosiers care about Putin’s Pandora’s box?

INDIANAPOLIS – The post-Cold War era has essentially ended now that Russian President Vladimir Putin…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ staff detained at U.S. Capitol

"The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert, right, with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. (CBS Photo…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Professional-Palestine group targets Jewish-owned enterprise in London
World

Professional-Palestine group targets Jewish-owned enterprise in London

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
First Factor: Federal court docket blocks Trump from imposing ‘illegal’ sweeping tariffs
World

First Factor: Federal court docket blocks Trump from imposing ‘illegal’ sweeping tariffs

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Trump administration to struggle court docket tariff ruling as aide labels it a ‘judicial coup’ – US politics dwell
World

Trump administration to struggle court docket tariff ruling as aide labels it a ‘judicial coup’ – US politics dwell

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
First Factor: Federal court docket blocks Trump from imposing ‘illegal’ sweeping tariffs
World

US distances itself from Gaza meals supply group amid questions over its management, funding

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?