Republicans and Democrats are praising President Trump’s decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the country’s role in the nerve gas attack against an ex-spy in London.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who is the co-leader of a Senate investigation into Russian election meddling, said the administration “has done the right thing,” in backing Britain, which also expelled Russian diplomats.
“We cannot tolerate Russian aggression like this brazen chemical weapons attack on British soil,” Warner said in a statement. “The U.S. and our allies should keep up the pressure until Russia gets the message.”
The expulsions follow criticism by Democrats that Trump has not criticized Russia forcefully enough for its misdeeds, in particular the role the government played in trying to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who is traveling with a congressional delegation in Prague, said the action removes doubt about where the United States stands on the issue of Russian aggression.
“The Trump administration is making clear the United States stands with our allies and that there will be consequences for Russia’s recklessness,” Ryan said in a statement. “The United States must continue to lead international efforts to isolate Russia so that it understands its behavior will not be tolerated.”
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said he agreed with the administration’s decision.
Russia is accused of using nerve gas to try to kill a former Russian spy and his daughter is Salisbury, England, in March. The two survived.
“Russia simply cannot be allowed to violate our allies’ sovereignty, use chemical weapons, or spy on our country with impunity,” Cotton said in a statement. ‘Today’s decision by the president is a prudent step that will put more boundaries on the Putin regime’s behavior. I also applaud our many NATO allies for standing with Great Britain and the U.S. against Russian aggression.”
