Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) didn’t hold back as he blasted President Donald Trump for his shocking about-face on Ukraine, calling it a historic disgrace.
The criticism came after Trump, in his second-term cabinet meeting, stated that the U.S. would not provide Ukraine with security guarantees or NATO membership. Schiff responded sharply during an interview on CNN when host Wolf Blitzer asked for his thoughts on Trump’s dangerous shift.
“This is an effort to pressure Zelensky into giving up something for nothing,” Schiff said, referring to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
He went on to say that Trump’s stance, along with the U.S. siding with Russia at the United Nations, was one of the “most shameful incidents in modern history.” Schiff added that many Americans would be ashamed of the president, as the U.S. was betraying its ally, Ukraine.
Schiff continued his criticism, saying, “We not only betrayed an ally, but we betrayed our principles.” He questioned whether the U.S. was now only concerned with money and no longer committed to democracy or supporting its allies.
“What a sad chapter of our history,” Schiff said.
Later in the interview, Schiff called Trump a “hostile U.S. president” who seemed to be too influenced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He praised Zelensky for his strong leadership during the ongoing war in Ukraine, calling him “Churchillian.”
Schiff concluded by criticizing Trump’s offer to Ukraine, saying that reducing the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people to a deal involving their country’s resources was “tawdry.” He accused the administration of reducing America’s allies to a desperate position.
Watch the full CNN segment below.
