David Corn: You Can Broker a Peace Deal ‘Without Praising the Guy Who Started the War’

EXCERPT:

CORN: "You know, it wasn’t just what he said in that clip. He also said — I’m going to get it right here — 'I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy.' He also called him super smart. When Zelenskyy comes to town, Trump and Vance, they call him a dictator. When Vladimir Putin is a part of the conversation, a guy who illegally invaded Ukraine, who has kidnapped thousands of children, who has targeted civilian targets and committed, according to some war crimes, they can’t stop falling over themselves to praise the guy. You know, you can be a broker of a peace deal, if that’s what you’re trying to do, without praising the guy who started the war. You don’t have to do this. Don’t tell me it’s a tactic here to bring peace. And so — but we know, going back to 2013, Trump was tweeting out, 'Will Vladimir Putin be my best friend forever, my BFF?' He has always had this affinity for him, somewhat curious and bizarre. It’s never gone away and they’ve been leaning and tilting towards him ever since he came into the White House a second time. And, you know, if I were in Ukraine's shoes and I saw all this, I’d be very suspicious of any deal that Donald Trump would put his backing to."