Donald Trump is a Psycho on Foreign Policy (etc)

This article may be more emotional than what I usually post. I'm setting aside my typical approach of blending factual analysis with opinion to express the genuine outrage I feel about Trump’s recent comments on Ukraine.

First, some history. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the breakaway republics found themselves facing both an opportunity and a burden. They inherited significant portions of the Soviet nuclear arsenal, which were based within their borders. Remember, when the Soviet government fell, each country essentially took control of the existing military equipment within its territory, as they had as much right to it as any other Soviet state. The world recognized the problem of nuclear weapons in these newly independent nations. Suddenly, we faced the prospect of several unstable governments holding nuclear arsenals, with no adequate chain of custody in place for those weapons.

In 1994, the U.S., U.K., Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus signed the “Budapest Memorandum.” This agreement generally guaranteed the security of those states, including Ukraine, in exchange for relinquishing control of their newfound nuclear arsenals.

Fast forward through years of Russian attempts to destabilize and control Ukraine via oligarchs and corrupt presidents. Ukraine finally broke free from Russia in the 2014 election. Shortly after, Russia annexed Crimea and initiated the war in eastern Ukraine. Many administrations failed Ukraine and did not live up to the essence of the memorandum. Even today, we fall short of fully honoring the guarantees we agreed to, though we are certainly doing more than prior administrations.

It’s abundantly clear that Ukraine defending itself and keeping Russia from occupying its land is in everyone’s interest, except for the worst actors. A Russian defeat would send a clear message that land grabs don’t work and that conflicts must be resolved through diplomatic means. I doubt many readers would disagree, since I assume you don’t spend time in the darkest corners of the internet—where weak men, who never had the courage to serve their country, spout outrageous things just to feel strong and "counter-cultural." These people hate America. They may wave a flag, but it’s not out of pride; it’s a symbol of political identity. And that’s why they become outraged when Democrats show patriotism.

Now, let’s discuss what Trump—the biggest clown, idiot, and husk of a man—recently said about Ukraine, to the applause of a crowd that clearly has no clue about foreign policy. In short, here’s what Trump suggested:

• Ukraine should surrender because "Russia always wins wars."

• He would lift sanctions on Russia and Iran.

• The U.S. should pull out of the war, which includes ending all aid.

• He previously praised Putin’s invasion as "brilliant."

This comes on top of the memory of Trump trying to blackmail Zelensky before the full-scale invasion, demanding dirt on Biden in exchange for aid that Congress had already allocated.

Trump has done a remarkable job convincing his cheering supporters that toughness is about being irreverent and loud. It’s not. Toughness is standing by our allies against tyrants and being a nation that keeps its word. That’s the miracle of America, and it’s under threat once again.

To say this is concerning would be an understatement. It’s outrageous, infuriating, and mind-blowing. How anyone can continue to support this unqualified clown is beyond me. While we may not be able to answer that question, we can continue to fight against him and ensure he’s jobless come November. Let’s take this moment to double down on behalf of our nation, Ukraine, and history.