Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) criticized former President Trump for his recent comments about NATO, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin must be “thrilled” by the comments.
“Oh, Putin must be really excited. From Putin’s point of view, you can see that the war in Ukraine is not going well for Russia. The Russians are coming back in body bags. NATO is expanding around him, and two new countries are joining NATO. NATO is getting stronger,” Schiff said on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki.”
“And along comes Donald Trump to wrench defeat from the jaws of victory for Russia and the United States and its NATO allies,” he added.
Schiff on Saturday responded to President Trump’s remarks at a rally in South Carolina, telling foreign leaders that Russia “will do whatever it wants” if the country doesn’t contribute enough to the NATO alliance. He said he had warned him. ”
“One of the presidents of a great power stood up and said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay and the Russians attack us, will you protect us?'” Trump said at the rally. Told.
“You didn’t pay? Are you in arrears?” Trump said. “No, I won’t protect you. In fact, I’d encourage them to do whatever they want to do. You have to pay. You have to pay the bills.”
Schiff continued to criticize President Trump’s comments, pointing to Republicans in Congress who voted against additional aid to Ukraine, which is nearing its second year of war with Russia.
“It couldn’t have come at a worse time. President Trump’s Republicans are withholding aid to Ukraine. Trump is an eternal gift to Vladimir Putin,” Schiff said.
“And, you know, I think Donald Trump thinks this makes him look strong, but it just makes him look like an incredibly weak leader. Weak about not strengthening, weak about compromising our security.”
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