The Don’s love affair with Vladimir Putin has been one for the ages. For 30 years (pre-Putin.) The Don has pursued real estate deals in Russia, hoping to build a grand hotel in Moscow. Bear with me for a bit of history on the topic. In 1996 and 2007, The Don made renewed efforts to look into licensing or developing real estate projects in Russia. In 2013, following the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, The Don tweeted, “TRUMP TOWER-MOSCOW is next”, and his team sought meetings with Russian officials. October 2015 – June 2016: During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump signed a non-binding letter of intent to build his hotel before the plan was eventually shelved. The last one really pops out at you as this was going on while he was running for president!
The Russians interfered with the 2016 election. The Don still denies it despite the fact that the Mueller investigation proved it, though there wasn’t enough direct evidence to tie The Don to it. There was a senate committee. Led by, of all people, Russia hawk Marco Rubio, that confirmed Russia’s interference in the election. Oh Marco, Marco, Marco how you have strayed and now through your spinelessness and desire for power, have truly morphed into The Don’s scornful moniker for you, “Little Marco.
There was the infamous press conference in Helsinki when The Don shocked us with his support of Putin over U.S. intelligence. Putin said he didn’t do nothin and I’m going with that. Basically, fuck our intelligence. At this point, the idea that had been floating around for a while, that The Don was a puppet of Putin, became more real. As The Don used to say: “Russia, Russia, Russia.” that’s all anyone wants to talks about. Agreeing with Putin, a known sociopath, a ruthless autocrat who kills dissenters, makes one think Russia, Russia, Russia: What the hell is this idiot doing? Why is he supporting a man who sows chaos in his desire to weaken western alliances. Why would a U.S. president make choices that undermine our own foreign policy?
Four years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine in attempt to annex it as part of Russia. (They had already annexed Crimea in a prior invasion in 2014.) The Ukranians are the modern David to the Russia’s Goliath; the fact that they are still holding back Russian forces and finding ways with new technology to strike back is a remarkable story. It’s all so tragic. Recently Russia has upped its attacks, more civilians are dying and it is laying waste to vital infrastructure; some of their targets are clearly war crimes.
In the last week, The Don’s love of Putin rose to new heights. Ukraine has already lost financial support from us to help it build weapons to defend itself from an immoral, blood-thirsty killer. Within the last week, The Don has decided to pay Russia four billion dollars for it’s crude oil and forestall new sanctions put into place that were to take effect on October 18th. This was a bill passed by both houses that was the baby of the now deceased, die hard supporter of The Don, Lindsey Graham. We have also put a hold on the delivery of Patriot missiles that are vital to Ukraine’s defense from Russian missile attacks. The capacity of their satellite use, essential for any success defending themselves, has been compromised by our government. It all adds up to something pretty obvious: The Don, like the mob boss he is, is squeezing the Ukranians to make them say uncle. He wants them to feel hopeless and force them to surrender part of their sovereign territory to Russia. He wants to end the war and then of course demand he wins the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace. The Don actually asked Ukraine to hold off bombing Russian oil infrastructure so it wouldn’t impact Russia’s capacity to deliver on the deal. “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven’t been doing much.” The Don said, while Russian missiles and drones have been targeting apartment buildings in Kyiv and Ukraine’s electricity grid. As far as Ukraine goes: “We’ve given a lot to Ukraine. They’ve given nothing to us.” Steve Witkoff in a meeting with Putin said: “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that.” When you call a sociopathic killer a humanitarian you have entered a dark episode of the twilight zone.
There has been some descent on the part of Republicans, but it is more of a low energy mumble instead of a full-throated denunciation. Not only is this the complete opposite of anything the U. S has done before, but it has dire consequences. Russia, whose economy is struggling because of the war, now has a four billion dollar windfall which helps them sustain their military offensive against Ukraine. It also gives them greater capacity to send more weapons Iran’s way. It boggles the mind that The Don’s deal with Putin potentially strengthens Iran. Aren’t we in a war with them? Treason anyone?
So here we are. Two weeks before a consequential election where all is pointing to strong democratic victories in both The House and The Senate which will change the balance of power. The Don is proudly making deals with Vladimir Putin that shore up Putin in his attempt to annex at least part of Ukraine. The Don has basically said: “I have no interest in what happens to Ukraine or its people”. If Russia were to expand its attacks into other Eastern European countries The Don would shrug.
In the movie The Manchurian Candidate, an American is brainwashed and an attempt is made to catapult him to the presidency. Well, our Manchurian Candidate is here and wreaking havoc. He is doing Russia’s bidding just as planned. It’s not even subversive; it’s an in your face act of betrayal. The question is what has Putin promised The Don regarding Russia’s interference in the election?Russia, Russia, Russia. (Poster from Manchurian Candidate with The Don’s face inserted as the Main character.)
