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Most Republicans who are known to be staunch loyalists to former President Donald Trump have echoed his support for Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, breaks from the former president by condemning Putin and his invasion.
A report by the Washington Post revealed a rare moment where McCarthy disagreed with the former president, especially in his stance towards Putin. Speaking with reporters at his latest news conference, McCarthy admitted that he disagreed with Trump, who called the Russian dictator “savvy” and a “genius.”
“I do not think anything’s savvy or genius with Putin,” said McCarthy. “I think Putin is evil. He is a dictator. And I think he’s murdering people right now.”
A month prior, Trump went on a right-wing radio show, where he praised Putin’s leadership as he continues to wage war on Ukraine. Trump has doubled down on his praise of the Russian dictator ever since. However, despite McCarthy’s condemnation of the Ukraine invasion, it appears to come a little too late as the pro-Trump wing of the GOP has often sung praises for the Russian dictator.
McCarthy is already facing a lot of backlash for his weak handling of the controversies brought on by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who spoke at a white nationalist event. McCarthy recently attempted to criticize the US for not delivering weapons to Ukraine much sooner. McCarthy said that the US was too slow in delivering weapons to Ukraine as it continues to fend off Russia.
McCarthy also called on the country to send the needed weapons to Taiwan as well to defend itself from threats coming from China.
However, McCarthy faced criticism as some have pointed out that the House Minority Leader endorsed Trump’s attempted bribing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Congress-approved aid in exchange for information on now-President Joe Biden. The attempted extortion became the cause of Trump’s first impeachment, which McCarthy voted against.
“Donald Trump illegally cut off defensive aid to Ukraine to blackmail President Zelenskyy and McCarthy defended it,” tweeted Democratic Rep. Don Beyer.
“Did you say that to Trump when he withheld the congressionally-authorized military assistance to Ukraine to coerce Zelenskyy to help Trump’s re-election campaign?” tweeted attorney Daniel Goldman.
