President Trump is “inexplicably” showing deference to Russia and treating allies with contempt by proposing that Moscow have a seat at the Group of Seven summit of leading economies, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Friday.
Russia was ejected from the group due to its 2014 annexation of Crimea and invasion of Ukraine, which both continue today, said McCain, who has been in Arizona since December battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
“Nothing he has done since then has changed that most obvious fact. Every day, Russian-led separatist forces are killing Ukrainians in the Donbass. Every day, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s forces are helping the Assad regime slaughter the Syrian people and every day, through assassinations, cyber-attacks, and malign influence, Russia is assaulting democratic institutions all over the world,” McCain said.
Trump made the comment Friday morning before departing for the G-7 summit where he was expected to face contentious talks with France, Canada, and other long-time U.S. allies over his tariffs on steel and aluminum.
[Related: Theresa May gives Trump the cold shoulder, will not meet with US delegation at G-7 summit]
“The President has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies,” McCain said. “Those nations that share our values and have sacrificed alongside us for decades are being treated with contempt.”
McCain called it a “sure path” toward diminishing U.S. standing in the world.
