Analysis: Republicans subtly plead with Trump: Please don't cave to Putin
But as the administration teases at least the theoretical possibility of a peace deal – however unlikely that might actually be – something else has crept into many of these GOP comments: A not-so-subtle fear that Putin might get too much.
Numerous Republicans and Trump media allies have in recent days layered their almost perfunctory praise of Trump with notes of caution about what happens next. They've often gently nudged him to be more skeptical of and hard-edged toward Putin than he's been in public.
And they've expressly worried that the process could result in a 'win' for Putin – a fear polls show many Americans share.
It looks a lot like they're concerned the president who has long treated the Russian leader with kid gloves might give away the store in order to end the war.
Perhaps nobody has been as explicit about that as Sen. Thom Tillis.
Appearing Wednesday on 'CBS Mornings,' the North Carolina Republican said it was clear Putin is stringing Trump along and warned against 'even a modicum of a win' for the Russian president.
'Putin's provocation is the fear that a former Soviet satellite could become a thriving Western democracy. That will be the beginning of the end of his failed Communist totalitarian experience,' said Tillis, who is not running for reelection next year.
'And giving him even a modicum of a win gives life to his belief that this world should be under totalitarian rule.'
Others have been more subtle but also raised big red flags about what Trump might try to give way.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has repeatedly cautioned that any 'land swaps' should only recognize parts of Ukraine as being under Russian control – not actually hand them over to be part of Russia.
'Be very careful about rewarding Putin by giving him title to Ukrainian land through force of arms,' Graham told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday, ahead of Trump's meeting with Zelensky and European leaders.
He and others have cautioned that doing so could embolden China to try and take Taiwan by force.
'As to land swaps, remember: China is watching,' Graham told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Monday. 'Don't do anything in Ukraine that would entice China to take Taiwan.'
Hannity agreed that he 'would rather not reward aggression on the part of Putin.'
Fellow Fox News host Mark Levin devoted a lengthy portion of his show the day after the Trump-Putin meeting to describing Russia's territorial ambitions and the failures of past efforts like the Budapest Memorandum to rein them in.
He added in a social media post Tuesday after the latest Russian offensive in Ukraine: 'Genocidal maniac Putin cannot control himself.'
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker soon seized on Levin's post to essentially plead with Trump – all while, of course, praising him.
'President @realDonaldTrump, your advocate, Mark Levin, warns that Vladimir Putin is a 'genocidal maniac.' These are wise words from a good friend. Putin lies and kills,' the Mississippi Republican wrote, adding: 'Your leadership will be key to keep Ukraine, U.S., and Europe together against Putin's delays and deceptions.'
Sen. Ted Cruz appeared on Fox News on Monday night and predicted Trump will land a peace deal – with a major caveat.
'What I have encouraged President Trump to do is to resolve it in a way that is a clear and discernible loss for Russia and Putin,' the Texas Republican said. 'Russia is not our friend, Putin is not our friend.'
Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina has repeatedly praised Trump as seeing through Putin's lies.
'The war criminal, Putin, is misleading the world,' he said on CNN's 'The Lead' on Tuesday. 'But we've got a president who understands. … Gee whiz, what a president we have with Donald Trump.'
Wilson added: 'But I agree with what Donald Trump has previously said: He has lovely talks with Putin in the morning and then there are murderous attacks by war criminal Putin in the afternoon.'
The idea that Trump sees through Putin's tactics is certainly debatable. It was as if Wilson was painting a picture of the Trump he'd like to see.
And perhaps the most critical House Republican has been Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who's not seeking reelection.
He said Tuesday that he supported peace negotiations. But then he suggested Trump's odd recent comments about Ukraine being able to make peace were not fortuitous.
'But saying Ukraine can have peace tomorrow if they want is a statement asking them to capitulate to Russia's invasion,' Bacon said. 'We should negotiate with moral clarity knowing Russia started this war with its ruthless invasion. We shouldn't reward barbarity.'
These Republicans aren't the only ones who seem to fear Putin getting too much. Polls have suggested many Americans agree.
A recent Fox News poll showed Americans said 58%-35% that Putin had the 'upper hand' on Trump ahead of their summit. Large numbers of Americans have long said Trump is too favorable to Putin. And a Gallup poll showed 7 in 10 Americans were at least 'somewhat' worried a peace deal would be too favorable to Russia.
But it's telling that Republicans feel compelled to publicly express these concerns.
Negotiating an actual peace deal means getting down to the nitty-gritty of what's an acceptable concession.
And that's apparently a pretty scary prospect for the many Russia hawks who have quietly stood by for years as Trump and his party drifted away from Ukraine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas House finally passes congressional redistricting map after weeks of walkouts, lock-ins and arrest warrants
The new map could secure the GOP five additional seats in Congress in next year's midterms. Democrats say they now plan to challenge the map in court. The Texas House of Representatives approved a new map for the state's congressional districts on Wednesday, cementing a legislative win for Republicans that had been put on hold for weeks when Democratic legislators fled the state to block its passage. The new map would give the GOP a chance to secure up to five additional seats in Congress in next year's midterm elections. A final vote in the state Senate, which is expected to approve the plan, is needed before the it can be signed into law. Democrats say they intend to challenge the map in court. Republicans first announced their intention to pursue redistricting outside of the usual 10-year cycle in June. But the fight over the plan didn't become a national story until earlier this month, when dozens of Democrats left the state in order to prevent the House from having enough members present to formally meet. Each absent Democrat was fined $500 a day during the roughly two weeks they were out of state. Texas's Republican governor Greg Abbott also threatened to have them removed from their seats and civil warrants were issued for their arrests. In the end, though, the Democrats opted to return home in order to 'build a strong public legislative record for the upcoming legal battle' over the maps. They argue that the new district violates both the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Their walkout, which was never likely to prevent the maps from passing entirely, inspired Democrats in blue states across the country to rally behind their cause, pleading to pursue their own redistricting plans to offset the GOP's gains in Texas. So far, only California has formally moved forward with that process. Democratic governor Gavin Newsom has called for a special election in November to ask voters to approve new district lines in the state. Texas Democrats returned to the House for the first time on Monday, which allowed the chamber to meet briefly before adjourning with a plan to meet again on Wednesday to consider the maps. At the end of Monday's session, the House's GOP leadership instituted a rule requiring all Democrats who had previously left the state to submit to police escort in order to be allowed to exit the Capitol. All but one, Rep. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth, consented. Collier chose instead to remain in the House chamber. She spent Tuesday night sleeping at her desk with her feet propped up on a rolling chair. Two of her colleagues, including House Minority Leader Gene Wu, joined her overnight protest Tuesday night. More Democrats did the same on Wednesday night. The House reconvened on Wednesday morning for a lengthy — and at times heated — debate over the redistricting plan. Democrats proposed a variety of amendments to the proposal, including one that would have only allowed the maps to go into effect if the federal government agreed to release all files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. 'What we are doing today is unjust, it is un-Texan and it is un-American,' Democratic representative Cassandra Garcia Hernandez said before the bill's final passage. The bill was eventually passed in an 88—52 party-line vote. The issue now moves to the courts. The standards for what makes congressional maps legal or not can be complicated. The Supreme Court has ruled that gerrymandered maps drawn to give one party a political advantage are generally constitutional. However, district lines that deliberately weaken the voting power of a specific racial group are not. The fate of Texas's new map will hinge on whether the courts view it as a racial gerrymander, as Democrats claim, rather than a purely partisan one. Republicans are also looking at a number of other red states where they believe there may be opportunities to gain extra seats through redistricting, including Ohio, Missouri and Indiana. Democrats are doing the same in blue states outside of California, though their ability to put more favorable district lines in states like Illinois, Maryland and New York may be limited. Read more: Texas redistricting fight goes national as GOP, Dems prepare for more battles over future House maps The ultimate outcome of the redistricting battle, in Texas and nationwide, could play a major role in deciding which party has control of Congress after the 2026 midterms. Democrats only need to gain a small number of seats to get the majority in the House. If they do, they would effectively have veto power over any legislation Trump and the GOP want to pass. They would also have new oversight authority and the ability to launch investigations into the president's most controversial moves since he returned to office.
New York Post
26 minutes ago
- New York Post
To understand Russians, try catching a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre
He's Putin on the ritz To try to understand a land which birthed a Putin, I went back to my old notes. I have been to Russia several times. A taxi, empty, cruised past, slowly, repeatedly, then grudgingly stopped. In English, the cabbie said: 'We must take foreign language in school. Still, we avoid anyone who looks American. They're trouble. They carry little conversation dictionaries but Americans we never understand. Talk too fast. 'Impatient. When you can't understand they bang you on the back — and you hit yourself against the wheel. Always they get mad. One threw hands around, pointed to where he wanted to go and his arm crossed my face. I couldn't see to drive. Dangerous. Americans are much trouble.' The Bolshoi Theatre got me into a personal cold war. They make you remove your coat before entering. I was freezing. It was chilly outside and inside. Also, my nose was running. Me walking to my seat, he then trotted out from his booth. This Gardes Des Robes tugged at my lapel. I tried sign language. He did physical language. As I headed for my seat he physically barred my way. A shivering lady comrade who'd doffed her wrap explained: 'People here are used to authority. You obey automatically.' Another said, 'We are on a cultural level. The sold-out Kremlin opera seats 6,000, Tchaikovsky Hall has nightly musical concerts. Also the Central Puppet Theatre, Operetta Theatre, Children's Theatre and 27 other Moscow theatres, including the Bolshoi, which was founded in 1776. And for three rubles [less than a dollar], I can sit in the seat which once held the czar.' She comes here how often? Her answer: 'This the first time.' On the outside, pleasant. Inside, something else. Crumple a Kleenex in your luggage. It's crumpled differently upon your return. Hotel elevators delist two floors. Reportedly, it's where the hotel held the building's wire tap equipment. Get opinions and commentary from our columnists Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Showers without curtains. Sinks minus stoppers. Room service that doesn't answer. I myself brought in a chicken sandwich and cup of hot chocolate. Two days later a chicken sandwich and candy bar were on my bed. The manageress: 'Our new hotel will have 6,000 rooms. Equipped with every modern facility.' Me: 'Will it have a swimming pool?' She: 'Certainly not. But it will have a concert hall.' 'Hotels have reasonable rates. Wish entertainment — you pay extra.' I asked if she vacations with her husband. 'No. I go separately. To the Crimeas. Sochi in the Black Sea where many of the presidium go.' I also asked famed Russian circus clown Popov if he gets a percentage of all the Popov dolls sold. Answer? 'Nyet.' Does his contract guarantee special dressing room and dresser in attendance? 'Nyet.' How then can you tell you're a star? 'I have a car.' In the words of Commie Slamdamnhe, there are many nice things about that country. Like parking places. Only problem? They got nothing to park. Only in Putinville, kids, only in Putinville.
Boston Globe
26 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Education Department quietly removes rules for teaching English learners
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Since March, the Education Department has also laid off nearly all workers in its Office of English Language Acquisition and has asked Congress to terminate funding for the federal program that helps pay for educating English-language learners. Last week, education advocates noticed that the guidance document related to English learning had a new label indicating it was rescinded and remains online 'for historical purposes only.' Advertisement On Tuesday, Education Department spokesperson Madi Biedermann said that the guidance for teaching English learners, which was originally set forth in 2015, was rescinded because it 'is not in line with administration policy.' Advertisement A Justice Department spokesperson responded to questions by sending a link to the July memorandum and said he had no comment when asked whether the guidance would be replaced. For decades, the federal government has held that failing to provide resources for people not proficient in English constitutes discrimination based on national origin under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. In rescinding the guidance, the Trump administration is signaling that it may stop enforcing the law under that long-standing interpretation. The Education and Justice departments have been responsible for enforcing the law. In the July memorandum, Attorney General Pam Bondi cited case law that says treating people, including students, who aren't proficient in English differently does not, on its face, amount to discrimination based on national origin. Other guidance related to language access for people using services across the federal government is also being suspended, according to the memo, and the Justice Department will create new guidance by mid-January to 'help agencies prioritize English while explaining precisely when and how multilingual assistance remains necessary.' The aim of the effort, Bondi said in a statement published alongside the memo, is to 'promote assimilation over division.' The consequences for school districts were not immediately clear, but advocates worry that rescinding the 2015 guidance could open the door for weaker instruction for English learners and upend decades of direction from the federal government to provide English-language services to students who need them. 'The Department of Education and the Department of Justice are walking away from 55 years of legal understanding and enforcement. I don't think we can understate how important that is,' said Michael Pillera, an attorney who worked at the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights for 10 years and now directs the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Advertisement Without pressure from the federal government to comply with the law, it is possible that some school districts will drop services, Pillera said, particularly as many districts struggle with financial pressures. 'It's going to ripple quickly,' he predicted. 'Schools were doing this because the Office for Civil Rights told them they had to.' Many districts will probably not change their services, but rescinding the guidance opens the door, said Leslie Villegas, an education policy analyst at New America, a think tank. Advocates may watch for changes in districts that previously had compliance problems or those that had open cases with the Office for Civil Rights related to English-language instruction, she noted. 'The rescission of this guidance may create the mentality that no one's watching,' Villegas said. In recent months, the Justice Department notified at least three school districts — in Boston; Newark; and Worcester, Massachusetts — that the government was releasing them from government monitoring that had been in place to ensure they offered services to English-language learners. 'Unfortunately, we're not at all surprised,' Anna Krieger, executive director of Massachusetts Advocates for Children, said of the Trump administration's latest move. 'It's a really devastating decision.'' In anticipation of such a shift, Krieger said in a phone interview Wednesday evening, state lawmakers recently took action to ensure ongoing protections for Massachusetts students who are learning English and those with disabilities. 'They will still have the same rights next year that they had in the last school year,' she said. Advertisement Supporters of immigration restrictions argued that relieving pressure on schools to provide these services might be helpful, especially given the costs to districts. 'If you devote all these resources to these kids coming in [to school] completely unprepared, inevitably it will diminish the quality of education others are getting,' said Ira Mehlman, spokesperson for the Federation for American Immigration Reform. Todd DuBois, communications director for U.S. English, a group that advocates for English as the official and common language, said some education is needed to help 'bridge the gap' for students who do not speak English, but the group is concerned that multilingualism 'gets in the way of teaching English literacy earlier in life.' Tonya Alanez of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
