Republicans find themselves back on the defense after former President Trump
Donald TrumpTrump says he’s not interested in being spokesman if the GOP retakes. House Perdue says he ‘misunderstood’ Trump supporters’ ‘lock up’ chants about Kemp. Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinRussia’s internet regulator announces fines against Google for “distributing false content”.
The remarks are the latest Trump-caused headache for Republicans this week and the latest entry in a year-long rift between Trump and many Republicans in Congress over Russia.
Trump’s comments also come at a politically awkward moment for GOP lawmakers trying to pressure the Biden administration to do more in response to Putin’s weeks-long, bloody invasion of Ukraine.
“My message to Putin is that he has to go,” Senator Lindsey Graham said
Lindsey Olin GrahamSusan Collins is “relatively soon” making a decision by Supreme Court, GOP Sen. No. 2, to oppose Supreme Court nominee Romney, who is planning “a much deeper dive” against Jackson after confronting her for the Circuit Court of Appeals MORE (RS.C.), which has remained close to Trump since leaving office last year when asked about the former president’s comments.
When asked if he thought the comment was appropriate, Graham added, “It wouldn’t be something I would do, no.”
Senator John Thune
John Randolph ThuneManchin shoots down Biden’s new tax plan for billionaires Schumer says Thomas should step down as GOP’s No. 2 Sen. to oppose Supreme Court nominee MORE (SD), No. 2 Senate Republican, said: “We have very little control over what the former President says, obviously.”
“You know, there are a lot of voices out there at the moment and you have to focus on the goal and that is to give the Ukrainians everything they need to be successful and to win. And I think that’s actually a possibility,” Thune added, asking if it addressed the Senate Republicans’ message on Russia.
Trump set alarm bells ringing Tuesday night when he said in an interview he thinks Putin should release any information he might have about Hunter Biden, President Biden
Joe BidenTrump says he has no interest in being speaker if GOP takes back House Biden administration Government ramps up support for antitrust efforts.
“One thing, while I’m on your show, unless Putin is a fan of our country right now, let him explain where – because of Chris Wallace
Christopher (Chris) WallaceChris Wallace: Working at Fox had turned into an ‘unsustainable’ WarnerMedia merger approved by Discovery shareholders, she, $3.5 million? That’s a lot of money,” Trump told John Solomon and Amanda Head on Just the News on Real America’s Voice.
Trump added: “I think Putin would know the answer to that. I think he should publish them.”
Trump was referring to a controversial 2020 Senate GOP report on President Biden and Hunter Biden that found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing. He doubled down on his comments on Wednesday, saying that “Russia may be ready to give that information.”
Solomon, a former staffer at The Hill, was investigated for his opinion columns during Trump’s first impeachment in 2019 in relation to Ukraine. The Hill then launched a review of these columns.
Democrats at the time alleged that Trump abused his power by attempting to pressure Ukraine to launch an investigation into the Bidens, including linking an investigation to Aid.
Not all Republicans distanced themselves from Trump’s statements.
“If he thinks Vladimir Putin has information a crime was committed, you know why not?” said Senator Kevin Cramer
Kevin John Cramer Bipartisan group of senators seeks details on defense aid to Ukraine Energy & Environment – Inside on continuation of oil leasing plans Republican senators introduce bill banning Russian uranium imports MORE (RN.D.), asked if Trump’s comments were appropriate.
But it’s hardly the first Russia-related headache for the GOP in response to Trump, who has been an ongoing bone of contention between the former president, who remains the de facto leader of the party, and Republicans in Congress.
The GOP-controlled Congress enacted new sanctions against Russia in 2017 over initial objections from the Trump administration. And more recently, Trump sparked backlash, including from regular Capitol Hill allies, when he called Putin “savvy” and “brilliant.”
“I don’t think much of Putin’s wisdom or genius,” House Minority Speaker Kevin McCarthy said
Kevin McCarthyJD Vance: Greene “didn’t do anything wrong” by attending the white nationalist conference. Defense and national security – Officials are skeptical that Russia’s military campaign will be reduced to a rare pause.
“I think Putin is evil. I think he’s a dictator. I think he’s murdering people right now,” McCarthy added.
Trump seemed to reiterate those statements in his statement on Wednesday, saying he called Putin a “genius” for building troops along the Russian-Ukrainian border before invading it, “because I assumed he’d be easy in would be able to negotiate a great deal for Russia.”
Trump’s latest comments come as Republicans are already facing questions this week about whether they communicated with him on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters of the then-president broke through the Capitol and disrupted the counting of electoral college 2020 results for hours .
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellJD Vance: Greene “didn’t do anything wrong” by attending the white nationalist conference. DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY — Officials skeptical Russia scales back military campaign at a weekly news conference about a call Trump made to him that he declined to answer on the day of the attack.
“I have said repeatedly the last time I spoke to the President was the day after the Electoral College declared President Biden the victor. I publicly congratulated President Biden on his victory and then received a call from President Trump, and that will be the last time we speak,” McConnell said when asked why he didn’t answer Trump’s call.
Congressional Republicans also offered Trump a split-screen Wednesday in Russia when Sens. Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanBennet, Portman introduce bill to use seized Russian assets for Ukraine relief effort The memo: Biden seeks to withdraw his gift to Putin Morning report from The Hill – Biden: ‘No’ policy to regime change in Russia MORE (R -Ohio) and Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinSchumer says Thomas should retire Ketanji Brown Jackson and the burden of firstness Manchin: GOP’s treatment of Jackson ‘disgraceful’, ’embarrassing’ MORE (D-Ill.), the co-chairs of Ukraine’s Senate Committee, met with members of Parliament of Ukraine.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Ukrainian Parliament today. America is inspired by their courage and the bravery of the Ukrainian people to stand up to Russian aggression,” Portman said after the meeting, adding that the government should move faster on sanctions and lethal aid.
Republicans also predicted that whatever comes out of Trump’s recent comments, like much of what the president says, is largely out of their control.
“I don’t know how I would answer that. That’s going to be like things that affect him, it’s going to unfold,” Sen. Mike Braun
Michael Braun Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Without Fear Or Favor, Braun Returns Remarks Criticizing SCOTUS Decision That Interracial Marriage Legalized ‘Out Of My Control’