Trump spent the week gushing over Putin, calling him a “genius” and insisting he’s “playing Biden like a drum.” Tucker Carlson of Fox News argued that the only reason Americans hate Putin was because they were victims of a propaganda campaign and that the real enemy was liberals at home. Anchors on Fox News repeatedly contrastedthe supposed decadence of a “woke” American culture with the “serious civilization” of Russia’s authoritarian government. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., made a surprise appearance at a white nationalist event Friday night. Right before and after her speech, the openly racist organizer, Nick Fuentes, led the crowd in a chant of “Putin, Putin” and praised Adolph Hitler.
For Trump and his authoritarian buddies, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must have felt like a turning point in the global war on democracy. But that moment of triumph very quickly faded. They had clearly underestimated the strength of both the Ukrainian resistance and the worldwide outpouring of pro-democratic sentiment that the war has inspired. The sanctions against Russia are looking like they’re going to cause serious damage, and even many of Putin’s strongest allies are jumping ship. Trumpists started backpedaling with an almost comical speed.
Taylor Greene is playing peekaboo, pretending one moment to one audience not to be a fascist, while signaling her true intent at other times to other audiences. Trump and his allies are playing the same game when it comes to Putin. Even during his speech where he formally denounced the invasion of Ukraine, Trump winkingly gestured towards his true feelings, reiterating his belief that Putin is “smart” and “playing Biden like a drum.”