KOMRADE: Following Biden’s historic Ukraine visit, DeSantis spews pro-Putin propaganda
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) took a break from his Blue state tour fear-mongering voters and pandering to law enforcement officials to spread Russian talking points on right-wing media on Monday.
Watch the video below.
In an interview with Fox & Friends hosts Monday morning, the Republican appeared remotely from an event in Staten Island and downplayed the threat of Putin’s war on Ukraine – and essentially democracy – to neighboring NATO countries.
“The fear of Russia going into NATO countries and all that, and steamrolling – that has not even come close to happening,” DeSantis told the hosts.
“I don’t think any of this would have happened but for the weakness, the President showed during his first year in office,” DeSantis blathered.
While President Joe Biden was halfway around the world meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on President’s Day, Gov. DeSantis was meeting with conservative media pundits attacking the administration’s commitment to supporting worldwide democracy.
According to DeSantis, the real threat to the nation is China – calling Russia’s military “third rate.”
Though the authoritarian-leaning governor has yet to throw his hat in the potentially crowded GOP primary for the party’s presidential nomination, his statements come across as campaign talking points.
Relatively silent on the war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assault on the sovereign country, Gov. DeSantis seems to be coming out of the shadows and jumping square on the Putin propaganda train.
It was just a year ago that DeSantis publicly praised the Ukrainian people for their “moxie” in resisting Russia’s invasion.
“I was heartened to see them having some moxie to fight back,” DeSantis said.
“Let me tell you: If you go into another country with an armed population that is hell-bent on resisting you,” the governor continued, “I mean, it’s going to be death by a thousand cuts for the Russian army,” Florida Phoenix reported.
“The question is, how much does he [Vladimir Putin] want to throw his country kind of down the toilet, because it’s not going to get any better, and I think he’s back ed himself into a corner here with his miscalculations.”
Claims that the European Union isn’t in danger of being attacked by a megalomaniacal madman are contradictory to the actions of Putin.
“Moldova’s pro-European Union government resigned this month following pressure from Russia,” Politico’s Olivia Olander reported.
According to President Maia Sandu, “Russia wanted to stage a coup in her country.”
“The Moldovan government has long accused Russia — which bases soldiers in the breakaway region of Transnistria in the east — of stirring unrest in the country, including protests in the capital Chișinău, as punishment for its pro-European path.” – Politico EU
Thankfully parliament elected Prime Minister Dorian Recea – a well-known supporter of the European Union.
In June 2022, Moldova was given EU candidate status alongside Ukraine.
“Together, we are ready to embark on this journey to continue advancing on the #EU integration, implement all the necessary reforms & provide stability for our country,” newly elected PM Recea tweeted less than a week ago.
Honoured to present the government team in front of the Republic of #Moldova @Parliament_RM today.
Together, we are ready to embark on this journey to continue advancing on the #EU integration, implement all the necessary reforms & provide stability for our country. pic.twitter.com/iC4snq8UEZ
— Dorin Recean (@receand) February 16, 2023
Gov. DeSantis avoided condemning President Putin for the civil and human rights atrocities occurring in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine but didn’t hold back when criticizing his own commander-in-chief.
The rumored 2024 Republican presidential candidate not only accused the Biden Administration for its pledged support of the war-torn nation but threw in condemnation of the Afghanistan withdrawal and the surge in asylum-seeking migrants for good measure.
“I think I, and many Americans, are thinking to ourselves ‘Ok, he’s very concerned about those borders halfway around the world. He’s not done anything to secure our borders here at home,” DeSantis spewed.
Less than two weeks ago, DeSantis held a panel where he made false claims that the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election was “debunked.”
It wasn’t.
DeSantis’ support of Russia and Vladimir Putin is less surprising than it should be.
In May, Occupy Democrats reported that the Governor’s refusal to divest from Russian assets cost the state’s pension fund over $200 million.
A former Navy officer and Harvard graduate, the potential 2024 frontrunner is playing a dangerous political and diplomatic game.
President Putin has made it very clear that he doesn’t intend to back down in his mission to restore the Soviet Union’s long-faded glory.
Gov. DeSantis has thrown the gauntlet down and shown the American people where he stands.
Here’s a hint – it’s not with America.
Watch the video here.
DeSantis downplays the threat Russia poses to other countries: "I think it's important to point out, I mean, you know, the fear of Russia going into NATO countries and all that, and steamrolling, that has not even come close to happening." pic.twitter.com/HbLXPsnc3P
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2023
Original reporting by Olivia Olander at Politico.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
