The chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Michael Whatley, suggested on Sunday that Ukraine is an “aggressive” adversary to the United States.
Whatley made the comment in an interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures where he also blamed Biden for showing countries like Ukraine that they can meddle in U.S. elections.
“I think that we are seeing right now that this election truly, truly matters on national security…when America is weak, the world is a far more dangerous place,” Whatley said.
“Joe Biden’s feckless leadership has shown China, has shown Ukraine, has shown Iran, that they can feel free to be much more aggressive on the world front to the point where even they will try and meddle with our elections here,” Whatley added.
Whatley, the former chairman of the North Carolina Republican party and an election denier, was elected to lead the RNC last month alongside Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
Notably, Whatley did not include Russia on the list of US adversaries and unlike Ukraine, there is evidence that Russian actually meddled in the 2016 presidential election to help elect Trump as outlined in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.
“The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion,” Mueller wrote. Though the report said the Trump campaign expected to benefit electorally from Russia’s efforts, “the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”
Whatley’s comments come after House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), told Puck News that Russian propaganda has “infected a good chuck of my party’s base.”
On Sunday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) told CNN it is “absolutely true.”
Turner added that this propaganda has made it difficult to pass crucial aid for Ukraine as they defend themselves against an unprovoked Russian invasion.
“To the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian versus democracy battle, which is what it is. President Xi of China, Vladimir Putin himself have identified it as such,” Turner said.
“We need to stand up for democracy,” he continued. “We need to make certain that we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start an aggression. Ukraine needs our help and assistance now and this is a very critical time for the US Congress to step up and provide that aid.”
