Donald Trump has praised Putin as “fierce” and “smart”—and Russian government television commentators continue to laud Donald Trump—one anchor even calling Trump, “beloved” and “our candidate.”
Many Americans are beginning to ask…why all the praise for a ruthless dictator who invaded a sovereign country?
Some Arizona military veterans are uneasy over Trump’s unwavering dedication to the Russian dictator and spoke to Northeast Valley News outside of the Scottsdale Civic Center as well as two West Valley locations about their concerns.
Increasingly veterans are mistrusting of Trump, according to one Gulf War veteran, “Ever since we found out about the stolen classified documents that were seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.”
But Trump’s latest remarks about using the U.S. military against Americans who have opposing political views has sparked outrage and concern. One vet told Northeast Valley News that he has joined the ranks of the anti-Trump, VoteVets organization that is actively working against Trump’s election and has released videos condemning Trump’s latest promise to unleash the military on American citizens who oppose him politically.
“It’s a page out of Putin’s playbook and I’ve no doubt that Trump would benefit from those stolen classified documents, and God knows what else, with Putin,” said Ron Manor, a veteran of the Gulf war.
“He’s unhinged and the thought of him being the commander-in-chief should terrify all of our brothers and sisters in the military,
Tim Welch, a 66-year-old Valley native and a US Army veteran who lives in Glendale, proudly told Northeast Valley News about his service in the Army as well as his Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Welch explained his thoughts on Trump’s various motivations for his close relationship to Putin.
“No question in my mind that he took them (classified documents) for future financial gain. Either from Putin/Russia and or N. Korea and China. This should be treated as the treasonous act that it is,” Welch said.
Trump also praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Xi who has been accused by Human Rights Watch of an increase in censorship, mass surveillance and a “broad and sustained offensive on human rights” since he became leader in 2012.
The Russian anchor footage referring to Trump as “beloved” according to Newsweek, was “collated and posted online with English translations by Daily Beast columnist, Julia Davis, who created the Media Monitor watchdog, her Twitter bio says she has been hit by sanctions from Russia, and in her recent posts writes, “I watch Russian state TV, so you don’t have to.”
So far, Trump has avoided condemning Putin—even after the Russian’s leader invasion of Ukraine—and his praise of Putin continues into the final stretches of the election.
Trump has called Putin’s strategy “genius”, a statement that resulted in backlash.
Putin’s campaign against a sovereign country launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and reportedly, a formal International Criminal Court investigation is underway to determine if Russia has committed war crimes during the invasion.
The Russian president has also cast a wide net against LGBTQ+ communities, lawyers and any political opposition candidates or supporters through arrests and even imprisonment and it’s not just the political opposition being targeted in the crackdown by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government. In recent years also falling victim are independent voices as well as those who don’t conform to what the state sees as the country’s “traditional values.”
Trump has also reportedly spoken to Putin since leaving office and called it a very “smart thing” falling short of admitting to specific conversations with Putin.
