Commentary

The leftist media would have you believe that former President Trump’s remarks about Vladimir Putin reflect praise for the Russian leader.  After reading a few snippets from CNN, the New York Times and NPR, I viewed it as a continuation of Trump’s tenure, during which he was considered to be pals with Putin.

Surely, you will remember when Trump jokingly said, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 (Clinton) e-mails that are missing.  I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press,” during his July 27, 2016 news conference. The media fumed over that.  Rep. Eric Swalwell saw Trump as a Russian agent.

It’s obvious, the media still doesn’t get Donald Trump.  He likes to stir things up. After reading the Washington Post piece, “Trump largely isolated in praise for Putin as GOP condemns Russian invasion,” I believe Trump is at it again.  Clearly, he’s taking advantage of Biden’s latest foreign policy decision on Putin and Ukraine.

Buried in the article, the Post stated that “Trump, in a radio interview Tuesday, called Putin’s actions ‘genius,’ though he appeared to strike a sarcastic tone at times.” The reference was to Trump’s appearance on the Clay Travis-Buck Sexton Show.

Trump’s comment about fake news was the insult that upset the media more than anything else, according to Sexton.

Sen. Lindsay Graham commented that “he wasn’t a fan of Trump’s ‘genius’ comment about Putin, but I understand what the president was trying to say.”

“Trump has often told aides that Putin is “a brilliant strategist, and really tough, and really smart and savvy,” the Post quoted a person close to Trump, “and Biden is not up for it.”  Is that “praise” for Putin, or simply a belief?

The person also told the Post that “the former president is very respectful of Putin, in a perverse sort of way.”

Another advisor saw Trump’s observations “not to buttress Putin, but to contrast him with Biden and portray Biden as not up for the job.”

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assessed Putin as “very shrewd.”  Some read that as “praise,” but to others it’s merely an observation.  Like Ohio’s Jane Timken, who noted that “Putin is playing Biden like a drum; not a pretty thing to watch.”

Let’s face it.  Over the years, even supporters of Trump have commented after reading one of his Tweets, he can be his own worst enemy.  And that’s because not everyone – especially the media – is willing to chalk up his remarks as sarcasm, or something said as a joke.

Following Laura Ingraham’s interview with Trump, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates … who? … referred to them as “two nauseating pigs.” Remember when Democrats were critical of Trump’s language?

At least one newspaper got it right.  “Biden lacks Trump’s punch, and Putin knows it,” was the headline over an opinion piece by Peter Lucas in the Boston Herald, in which he opened with, “That will teach Joe Biden to hug a thug.”

“Whatever you think of Donald Trump, he never would have allowed Vladimir Putin to run circles around him, which is what Putin has done to hapless Joe Biden,” Lucas continued, referring to Biden’s giving in on START and the Nord Stream pipeline.

“Biden has no punch.  He is a veteran Washington politician who made a career of getting along to get along,” Lucas writes, “Trump demanded respect; Biden seeks to make nice.”

Trump is scheduled to make the closing speech at CPAC on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.  With his way with words, we can expect the media to have another field day.

FINALLY, as you think about Biden’s handling of the Ukraine crisis, recall former President Obama‘s prescient statement: “Never underestimate Joe’s ability to f**k things up.”

Now, more than ever … may God continue to bless the United States of America.