Former President Donald Trump has unleashed a fierce critique of President Biden’s Ukraine approach on the “PBD Podcast,” raising concerns about the prospect of World War III and highlighting foreign policy as a key issue in upcoming elections.
At a Glance
- Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, warning of potential dire consequences.
- The U.S. has provided $175 billion in military aid to Ukraine, making it the largest contributor
- Foreign policy and support for Ukraine will play a prominent role in the 2024 elections.
- Polls indicate political differences in views on U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Trump’s Podcast Appearance
Donald Trump appeared on the “PBD Podcast,” where he accused President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky of provoking Russia’s military actions. Trump argued that the vast amount of military aid and support provided by the U.S. to Ukraine is a contributing factor to the escalation of the conflict. He believes that diplomatic negotiations could have prevented the war.
The former president warned of the likely onset of World War III. Highlighting the risks he claimed, “In the podcast interview, Trump said that Biden ‘instigated the war.'” He further lamented, “And that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help them because I feel very badly for those people. But he [Zelensky] should never have let that war start,” Trump said.
Foreign Policy Focus for Elections
With the election approaching, Trump’s comments signal a focus on foreign policy, particularly contrasting his approach with Biden’s. The outcome of the U.S. presidential election will have a significant impact on U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Trump’s supporters generally tend to oppose further American aid to Ukraine, while Kamala Harris’ supporters favor it.
“Without American voters knowing it, every U.S. election since 2012 has been relevant to the future of Ukraine, with Harris and Trump voters viewing how the U.S. should approach the war in Ukraine differently, this election will be no different,” said Philip van Scheltinga, the Redfield & Wilton Strategies director of research.
The division in views on U.S. support for Ukraine compliments the polling data by Redfield & Wilton Strategies that shows differing opinions based on political affiliation. Notably, Trump voters lean toward reconsidering or reducing aid.
Given how well Trump is doing in the polls, it seems pretty clear that the American people agree with him.