Former US President Donald Trump on Tuesday refused to direct any criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in prison last week, directing his criticism at the judicial system in his country, likening it to fascism and communism.
During the “Town Hall” television program attended by voters in South Carolina, broadcast by the “Fox News” network, and despite the urging of anchor Laura Ingraham, anchor of the hour-long program, Trump avoided mentioning Putin when asked about Navalny, but expressed his regret for the “very sad situation.”
Trump said Navalny was “a very brave man because he came back. He could have stayed away, and frankly, it probably would have been much better for him to stay away, and speak from outside the country.” He added, “This is happening in our country as well. We are turning into a communist country in many ways.”
During the interview, Trump criticized his being fined $355 million by a New York court in a fraud case, saying, “It is a form of what Navalny was subjected to.” “It is a form of communism or fascism,” he added.
“I have 8 or 9 prosecutions, all because I work in politics,” he said, adding, “If I had lost in the opinion polls, they would not have even talked about me, and legal fines would not have been imposed on me.”
In addition to the civil fraud case in New York, Trump faces 91 criminal charges, including charges related to interference to overturn the result of the presidential election, which he lost to Biden in 2020.
Putin is a “genius”
Trump has always relied on diplomacy and leniency with Russia, and at times he even explicitly expressed his admiration for Putin, describing him as a “genius.”
Earlier this month, Trump blocked a bill that would have provided billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, after he asked Republican lawmakers in Congress to vote against the legislation.
He also surprised Western allies recently after stating that he would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO member states that do not meet their financial obligations.
In a recent question directed to Putin by a journalist about who he prefers to win in the potential confrontation between Trump and current President Joe Biden, Putin surprised everyone by replying that he prefers Biden, attributing this to the fact that he is a person who is “more experienced and predictable in his actions. He is from the old school.”
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2024-02-21 06:58:04
