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The headline on the NBC News report probably raised some eyebrows: “Trump says he’s ‘very angry’ and ‘pissed off’ at Putin during an NBC News interview.” The report explained that Donald Trump, responding to Russia’s Vladimir Putin’s latest criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, complained that the comments were “not going in the right location.”
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said in an early-morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday.
If the goal was to generate a great many headlines about Trump being “angry” with his ally in Moscow, the comments were a great success.
But some skepticism is in order.
For now, let’s not dwell on the fact that it’s hard to imagine the Trump feeling genuine outrage about Putin criticizing Zelenskyy given the frequency with which he has criticized Zelenskyy. Instead, let’s consider what the Republican president has done, rather than that he’s said.
For example, the American president first threatened to impose harsh new sanctions on Russia in late January, and then he did nothing. Trump made related threats earlier this month, and again, there was no follow-through. As the Republican repeats a similar line, it’s tough to imagine the Kremlin feeling especially anxious about the White House’s next move — especially amid reports that the U.S. administration isn’t overly eager to enforce existing sanctions on Russia.
But while the administration’s line on sanctions is important, let’s also not overlook what the White House has done since Trump returned to power to help the Putin regime.
- The Trump administration agreed to help Russia sell its grain and fertilizer on the world market.
- The Trump administration halted work on a coordinated effort to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks.
- Trump reassigned the White House’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia after Putin let U.S. officials know that he did not approve of Trump’s choice.
- The Trump administration halted cyber operations and information operations against Russia.
- Trump publicly upbraided Zelenskyy while peddling Kremlin-style talking points.
- Trump suggested Putin was a victim of the 2016 Russia scandal.
- The Trump administration said it would terminate an initiative to protect Ukraine’s energy grid.
- Trump is prepared to reward Russia by welcoming it back into the G7.
- The Trump administration disbanded the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force.
- The Trump administration pared back enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
- The Trump administration disbanded the Justice Department’s program responsible for enforcing Russian sanctions and targeting oligarchs close to the Kremlin.
- The Trump administration slashed the U.S. Agency for International Development, to the delight of Moscow.
- Trump’s delegation to the United Nations voted with Russia — and against U.S. allies — on a resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine.
And did I mention that Senate Republicans, at Trump’s behest, confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the nation’s director of national intelligence, despite her habit of echoing Russian propaganda? Because that happened, too.
Your mileage might vary, but this does not seem to reflect an American president who’s “very angry” with the Russian leader.
This post updates our related earlier coverage.