Former President Donald Trump doubled down on calling Russian President Vladimir Putin “smart” for Russia’s Ukraine invasion strategy.
“I mean, he’s taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s pretty smart,” Trump said at a super PAC fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday night.
His comments came hours before Putin launched an all-out assault on Ukraine with missiles, warplanes and tanks on Thursday.
It is the second time in two days that Trump praised Putin’s justification for invading Ukraine.
On Tuesday Trump called Putin’s move “genius”on Clay Travis and Buck Sexton show after the Russian president declared two eastern Ukrainian territories “independent entities” and sent Russian forces in to “maintain peace.”
“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful,” Trump said.
He continued: “Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s strongest peace force… We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy… I know him very well. Very, very well.”
