Former US President Donald Trump addresses the crowd at a rally in South Carolina
In a tweet about Russia putting President Joe Biden on a sanctions list, Donald Trump revived an unproven allegation that Mr Biden has a conflict of interest on Russia and was ‘slow to fire’ when Vladimir Putin began its invasion of Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump also tweeted his congratulations to Paul Mango on his new book on Operation Warp Speed to deliver vaccines against Covid-19.
Meanwhile, a Democratic Party fundraising committee said it would hold the former president accountable by filing a formal complaint against him after he was accused of illegally spending political donations to campaign for president without register as a candidate.
American Bridge, a Democratic-aligned political action committee, said late Monday that it had already filed a complaint with the US Federal Election Commission regarding Mr. Trump’s conduct.
“We hold him accountable for breaking the law,” the group said.
Mr Trump continues to boast to his supporters that, contrary to reports that he has failed to deter Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in the post-Soviet sphere, ‘no one has been tougher on Russia’ than him – and that “my personality is what kept us out of the war”. .
He also speculated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “could lead to World War III”, adding that his successor Joe Biden can still “end this tragedy without dragging Americans into a horrible war. and very bloody”.
Why far-right Republicans are siding with Putin
When Putin invaded Ukraine, Donald Trump publicly said he thought he was a “genius”. He was never shy about expressing his admiration for the Russian strongman.
Kansas Senator Josh Hawley sent a public letter to the Secretary of State warning him not to allow Ukraine to join NATO and talking about leaving Europe to deal with Russia alone.
Georgian MP Marjorie Taylor Greene released an ad accusing “globalists” of wanting to take America to war. Former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Putin “talented”, “shrewd” and “very capable” in a number of different news segments, adding on Fox News that “he knows how to use the power”. We should respect that”.
One of the weirdest things about invading Ukraine is seeing the Republicans supporting the Russian president. My colleague Holly Baxter explains why they side with Putin.
Alisha Rahaman SarkarMarch 16, 2022 05:41
Sending Biden to Europe would only embolden haters, says Trump Jr
Former President Donald Trump’s son has now suggested that sending President Joe Biden to Europe for ‘high risk’ talks with NATO ‘would only further embolden our enemies’ amid the invasion unprovoked of Ukraine by Russia.
Donald Trump Jr added that “if you want something done right, send Trump”.
Mr Biden is likely to travel to Brussels next week for a meeting of NATO leaders to discuss the Russian invasion.
Alisha Rahaman SarkarMarch 16, 2022 05:19
‘Lots of love’ behind Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, Trump says
Former US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine was motivated by a desire to recreate the Soviet Union in which there was “a lot of love”.
Mr Trump told Fox News that the Russian president “wants to make his country bigger or put it back the way it was”, although “it hasn’t worked out very well”.
In a series of comments after his appearance on the show, Mr Trump said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had been a failure, but Mr Putin’s “big ego” would push him to become “more more ruthless.”
Alisha Rahaman SarkarMarch 16, 2022 04:56
Trump: Hungarian Viktor Orban “has my complete and total approval!”
In another missive posted on Twitter midday Tuesday, former President Donald Trump praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
He wrote: “Now, with what is happening with Russia and Ukraine, among other things, the great and wonderful people of Hungary need the strong and continued leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orban more than ever. He is TOUGH, SMART AND LOVES HIS COUNTRY. Come the next election next month, he already has my full and complete approval!”
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 04:30
Tucker Carlson hits back at claims he’s a Russian propagandist
Fox News host Tucker Carlson opened his show on Monday trying to defend himself against accusations that he broadcast Russian propaganda.
The top-rated Fox host came under fire on social media and cable news for saying he was “rooting” Russia in 2019 and, more recently, complained that Ukraine was ” not even a democracy” before the Russian invasion. Since then, he has bolstered a conspiracy theory justifying the invasion on his show suggesting Russia’s goals in Ukraine are to dismantle secret biological research facilities.
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 04:01
Trump accuses Biden of conflict of interest and being ‘slow to fire’ with Russia
Former President Donald Trump has reacted to news that Russia has sanctioned a number of senior US officials, including President Joe Biden.
In a statement posted on Twitter by his spokeswoman Liz Harrington, Mr Trump said: “Breaking news: Russia has just sanctioned Joe Biden. While this is a terrible thing, in many ways it may now be explained why the Biden family received $3.5 million from the very wealthy wife of the former mayor of Moscow.
He continued, “During our presidential debate, then-Fox ‘moderator’ Chris Wallace wouldn’t let me ask that question. He said it was inappropriate. Perhaps that’s why Biden has been so ‘slow to fire’ with Russia. This is a very bad conflict of interest that will, perhaps now, be fully and finally revealed!”
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 03:30
PSAKI mocks Russia for sanctioning President Biden’s father
After Russia announced sanctions against several US politicians, White House press secretary Jen Psaki pointed out that she may have accidentally punished President Biden’s father.
“I would first note that President Biden is a junior, so they may have sanctioned his father, may he rest in peace,” Ms Psaki told reporters on Tuesday.
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 03:00
Biden: Putin’s aggression has ‘united’ Americans and ‘the freedom-loving world’
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin united Americans and people around the world against him by invading Ukraine last month.
Speaking at a signing ceremony for a bill to fund US government operations for the remainder of fiscal year 2022, Biden praised legislative leaders for including a level of funding ” historical” – 13.6 billion dollars – to ensure a sufficient “economic, humanitarian and security” level. resources needed to continue the “vigorous” US response to the crisis.
“Putin’s aggression against Ukraine has united people across America. united our two parties in Congress and united the freedom-loving world,” he said.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 02:00
Senate passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent
The Sunshine Protection Act passed unanimously on Tuesday.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio said after his visit that “it’s an eclectic collection of members of the United States Senate in favor of what we just did here.”
Gustaf Kilander has the latest from Washington, DC.
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 01:00
Ukrainian journalist killed with Fox News cameraman was a freelancer for the network
Fox News reported that Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova was working as a freelancer for the network when she died in Monday’s attack that also killed her cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and injured correspondent Benjamin Hall.
Olivier O’ConnellMarch 16, 2022 00:00
