Trump’s Capitulation to Putin Is Undermining U.S. National Security

The president’s admiration for the Russian dictator erodes American interests and values. Illustration by Noah Hickey/The Dispatch (Photos via Getty Images). Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Donald Trump has never hidden his admiration for Russia’s imperial dictator, Vladimir Putin. Shortly after taking office for his first term in 2017, President Trump was asked by Fox News host Bill O’Reilly to defend his respect for Putin, whom O’Reilly called a “killer.” Trump replied, “We’ve got a lot of killers. Want to see more of The Dispatch in Google search? Add Us as a Preferred Source Michael McFaul is a professor of political science and senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and the Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. His latest book is Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014. More We Think You’d Like