Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., lit into President Trump Wednesday over his congratulatory call to Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier, calling it “ill-advised” and argued further that a “tyrant was strengthened” in the process
“It’s very foolhardy. Vladimir Putin is not a friend. Vladimir Putin is a despot. The president of the United States was wrong to congratulate him, and the White House press secretary was wrong to duck as simple question about whether or not Putin’s re-election was free and fair. It was not,” Sasse said during a speech on the Senate floor.
“When the White House refused to speak directly and clearly in this matter, we were weakened as a nation and a tyrant was strengthened,” Sasse said.
Overall, Sasse took issue with two things — the congratulatory call and that someone leaked the president’s briefing materials to the Washington Post where he was explicitly told not to offer wishes of congratulations. The Nebraska Republican said both should be be called out as wrong.
“It shouldn’t be difficult to say both of these things — they’re both true, so we should be able to say both of them at once,” Sasse said.
Trump’s call to Putin came under fire immediately, including by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said the president “insulted” Russians who were unable to vote in the “sham” election.
The president defended his decision to congratulate Putin in a series of tweets Wednesday afternoon, calling detractors “wrong” and pressing that it is important to have a constructive relationship with the Russians.
“I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing,” Trump said.
“They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the ‘smarts.’ Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” he added.
Sasse’s comments on the floor came over an hour after the president’s tweets. He called on members of the Senate to be able to say “basic true things” about what happened Tuesday.
“We ought not in this body find it difficult to say basic true things, like we condemn leaks by the president’s staff against him,” Sasse said. “We also condemn Vladimir Putin’s sham election.”
“We condemn a Russian despot that aims to make Soviet tyranny great again,” he added.
