On Thursday night, Fox News host Bret Baier confronted Senator Tom Cotton over President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about Ukraine and Russia. Baier questioned Cotton about Trump’s recent remarks that seemed to echo Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points, particularly Trump’s claim that Ukraine was partly to blame for the Russian invasion.
Trump’s shift in blame, pointing fingers at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has caused a stir. Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric seems to align with Putin’s narrative, a dangerous stance given the gravity of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the atrocities committed by its forces. These comments have divided conservative circles, with prominent figures like Fox News host Mark Levin and conservative outlets like the Wall Street Journal speaking out against the former president.
Baier pointed to some of these criticisms during his interview with Cotton. “Some noted conservatives are pushing back hard against the president,” Baier said, citing National Review’s claim that “Ukraine didn’t start the war. Ukraine is not the problem.” He then quoted the outlet, which said: “In breathtaking remarks to reporters. President Trump poured contempt on Ukraine for its frustration… There’s moral equivalence, and then there’s total moral inversion.”
Baier also highlighted Levin’s remarks, where he defended Zelensky’s actions, saying: “Zelensky ordered martial law. That’s what the Constitution there compels… Why is Putin demanding an election in Ukraine when he doesn’t have free and real elections in his own country?”
After airing the clip of Levin, Baier pointed out that many critics believe Trump’s rhetoric is only serving to empower Putin. “The going take is that this rhetoric, no matter if it’s negotiating, is empowering Putin in not a good way,” Baier noted.
Cotton defended Trump, insisting, “I don’t think the president has empowered Vladimir Putin at all.” The senator argued that Trump’s actions in his first term, including pressuring Germany to stop a gas pipeline and ramping up U.S. oil production, were directly hostile to Russia. He also mentioned that Trump had supported Ukraine with weapons to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Cotton concluded by saying that Trump and Zelensky ultimately share the same goal: ending the fighting, protecting Ukraine’s sovereignty, and preventing a future Russian invasion.
The exchange highlights the growing divide within the conservative movement over Trump’s stance on Ukraine and Russia.
Watch the exchange below via Fox News.
