Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) condemned former President Donald Trump’s comparison of himself to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as “absolutely appalling.” Raskin criticized Trump’s admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been widely accused of orchestrating Navalny’s death. Navalny, known for his advocacy for freedom and human rights, died while in custody in a Russian penal colony.
Raskin accused Trump of being soft on Putin and labeled him as Putin’s biggest ally in the United States, contributing to pro-Putin sentiment within the GOP. He described Trump as a “friend to every dictator and autocrat on earth” and emphasized that Trump has had ample opportunity to defend himself in legal proceedings, unlike Navalny.
Raskin: Donald Trump’s hero Vladimir Putin is responsible for the death of Navalny.. Trump is Putin’s biggest ally in the U.S. and is responsible for the pro-Putin sentiment in the GOP. For Trump to compare himself to Navalny is appalling pic.twitter.com/WHGEm9cCq7
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 22, 2024
Navalny’s death prompted swift condemnation from Western leaders, who blamed Putin’s regime. However, Trump remained silent on the matter initially and later refrained from criticizing Putin when he finally addressed the issue. Instead, Trump invoked his own legal troubles to suggest that he, too, is a victim of political persecution, referring to his legal challenges as “a form of Navalny” during a Fox News town hall.
Trump’s longstanding praise of Putin has strained relations with U.S. allies, and his influence over the Republican Party has led to growing resistance within the GOP to support Ukraine. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) cautioned against allowing the “Putin wing of the Republican Party” to gain control of the White House in the 2024 election.
