Donald Trump can’t help himself.
Over and over again this week — as Russia massed forces along Ukraine’s borders and then invaded on Wednesday night — the former US President found time to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Tuesday, in an interview with conservative radio hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, Trump repeatedly praised Putin for his strategy on Ukraine.
“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent,” Trump said. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”
Later in that same interview, Trump said this: “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.”
Then on Wednesday night, Trump sounded a very similar note while speaking during a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago.
“They say, ‘Trump said Putin’s smart.’ I mean, he’s taking over a country for two dollars’ worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart.
