As Russia pounds Ukraine, Trump asserts, "I stand as the only president..."
Key Takeaways:
- On Saturday, former President Donald Trump lashed out at US Vice President Joe Biden, saying he was praying for Ukrainians whose land had been invaded by Russia.
Former President Donald Trump blasted US President Joe Biden on Saturday, saying he was praying for Ukrainians whose land had been invaded by Russia. "On my watch, Russia did not invade another country in the twenty-first century," Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida, hinting at a presidential run in 2024.
"Russia invaded Georgia during Bush's presidency. Russia annexed Crimea under Obama's watch. Russia invaded Ukraine under Biden's watch. "Trump stated his opinion.
"I have no doubt Putin made his decision to invade Ukraine ruthlessly after witnessing the pathetic withdrawal from Afghanistan," Trump continued.
Trump had previously praised Putin, calling him "genius" and "pretty savvy." On the third day of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump expressed sympathy for Ukrainians and applauded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"As everyone understands," he said, "this horrific disaster would never have happened if our election was not rigged and if I was the president," to which a woman in the crowded audience exclaimed, "You are the president!" according to Reuters.
"The real issue is that our leaders are clueless. "The world is always safer when America has a strong president," Trump said, referring to his previous praise of Putin. With a weak American president, the world is always in danger."
"I put as much stock in Trump saying Putin is a genius as I did when he called himself a stable genius," Biden said in response to Trump calling Putin a genius.'