Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Sunday, after former President Trump was criticized for not explicitly condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for what many Western leaders believe was an assassination. continued to raise questions about his death.
Navalny died in a Russian prison last month, but little was known about his death until days later. President Biden and other Western leaders have said Putin is responsible, but President Trump has so far avoided making similar statements.
The former president spoke about Navalny’s death in an interview with Howard Kurtz on Fox News’ “Media Buzz” that aired Sunday.
Asked whether President Putin was responsible, President Trump replied, “I don’t know.” “Maybe. I mean, maybe, I would say, maybe. I don’t know. He’s a young guy, so statistically he’s going to live a long time. According to his insurance number, he could live another 40 years. ”
President Trump said, “Something extraordinary has happened.”
When asked by Kurz about Navalny’s assassination attempt with poison, Trump again avoided making any definitive statements.
“I don’t know. I can’t say for sure,” he said. “But it certainly looks like something very bad happened.”
In his first comments after Navalny’s death last month, Trump compared the jailed opposition leader’s experience to his own legal situation and called the civil suit against him “a form of Navalny.”
These comments were roundly criticized by both Democrats and Republicans, with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) calling them “against human dignity.”
“What does President Putin think about his despicable sidekick, Donald Trump, that he needs constant attention?” Pelosi said.
“It’s so bad that you might think, ‘No, someone must have made this up.’ Even Donald Trump couldn’t have done this,” she continued. “This statement disqualifies him from running for office, much less for President of the United States.”
President Trump’s interview on Sunday took place on the final day of voting in Russia’s election, with Putin expected to be elected to another six-year term in a non-competitive vote. At noon on Sunday, thousands of Russians simultaneously gathered at voting stations in a protest against the regime.
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