Republican Says Trump Is Wrong
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) is speaking out against President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling them “wrong” and misguided. In an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar, Bacon, a moderate Republican, expressed concern over Trump’s apparent support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was a “bad turn” for the former president.
Bacon emphasized that President Zelensky was democratically elected, and that Ukraine’s constitution allows elections to be postponed under martial law, which is currently in place due to Russia’s unprovoked invasion. Trump’s claim that Zelensky is a “dictator without elections” and that he is “doing a terrible job” was strongly challenged by Bacon, who stated that these comments do not represent the broader views of the Republican Party.
“There are many Republicans who understand that President Trump’s remarks are simply wrong,” said Bacon. “Putin is the dictator here. He’s the one who invaded Ukraine, killed political opponents, and ruled with an iron fist. Zelensky was democratically elected, and Ukraine is the victim in this situation.”
Bacon also called for a moral stand from the U.S. President, urging the leader of the free world to support Ukraine as they fight for their sovereignty, democracy, and freedom. “We need a president who stands on the side of freedom and democracy, not with the invader,” Bacon declared.
The tension between Trump and Zelensky escalated after Ukrainian leaders were left out of discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this week. Trump made headlines with baseless accusations that Zelensky had somehow instigated the war. In response, Zelensky called Trump’s claims “disinformation,” prompting Trump to take to Truth Social to double down on his statements.
Bacon, however, stood firmly behind Ukraine. He remarked, “Zelensky handled the situation tactfully. He’s the victim here, and Putin’s Russia is the aggressor. Russia has bombed cities, obliterated entire towns, and committed heinous crimes. We need to be clear about who the real villain is.”
The Nebraska lawmaker expressed disappointment in Trump’s stance, especially given the Republican Party’s commitment to defending freedom. He also noted that the current administration’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, under President Biden, had been slow, leaving Ukraine vulnerable. Bacon hoped that Trump, a Republican leader, would have taken a more decisive and noble approach to ending the war. Unfortunately, the rhetoric seen from Trump recently has only undermined the cause of liberty.
“We should be standing with Ukraine, the democratic nation that is fighting for its survival. Sadly, it feels as though we’re siding with the dictator, not with democracy,” Bacon concluded.
