McCain Unleashes on Trump’s Call to Bring Russia Back Into G7: ‘Sure Path to Diminishing America’s Leadership’
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) didn’t hold back today when he blasted President Donald Trump for saying Russia should be re-instated as a member of the Group of Seven (G7).
Before he left the White House to attend the G7’s summit in Canada, Trump spoke to reporters and bemoaned how Vladimir Putin won’t be attending today’s events. Russia used to be part of the G8, but they were expelled because of their invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
McCain regularly criticizes Trump over his friendliness with Putin, so he delivered a full-throated condemnation of Trump for continuing to elevate Russia while antagonizing America’s allies.
“Vladimir Putin chose to make Russia unworthy of membership in the G-8 by invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea. 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, 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.
The president has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies. Those nations that share our values and have sacrificed alongside us for decades are being treated with contempt. This is the antithesis of so-called ‘principled realism’ and a sure path to diminishing America’s leadership in the world.”
McCain’s condemnation comes after his fellow Republican Senators Jeff Flake (AZ) and Ben Sasse (NE) bashed Trump’s statements.
[Image via screengrab]
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