Ukraine

Where he’s coming from, based on what I’ve seen, is the assertion that Ukraine was in civil war before the 2022 invasion (basically true), and that the eastern separatists (who were indeed fighting Ukraine’s government) were being killed.

It’s also true that there was corruption, and some democratic backsliding, prior to the invasion (not that the US or Russia have any leg to stand on there).

The kool-aid part is that the separatists were fighting to “free” western Ukraine from the tyrannical govt, and that Russia finally invaded to save and “relieve” these noble citizens who want to be part of Russia. That everyone would vote this way if some elections weren’t suspended. This conveniently leaves out the first Russian invasion, propaganda efforts and so much more.

This is why Ukraine “started it.” They just kept attacking these rebels and forced Russia to intervene… I guess. On Putin’s side, it ties into the idea of an oppressed population yearning to be one with Russia again.

…What I am getting at is, with the MASSIVE intelligence apparatus at his disposal, Trump is guzzling this kool aid. He’s not a two faced dictator, he believes the propaganda and has swallowed the hook.

I think that is even scarier than a real “dictator.” Even if you buy into the whole “America First” philosophy (which has some merits at least), it means Trump can make monumentally bad decisions that don’t follow this mandate or even benefit him, as his view is totally warped.