I have read that he was informed by staff about the Putin situation just after he made the "Putin crazy" comment. Trump's reaction was, "So, that may be the reason..." Now he knows. Previous Putin comment "no longer operative."
He knows. The US gave Ukraine intel on the helicopter flight. The Ukies used it to take a shot at the king. They missed. Putin responded with a missile barrage, the largest to date in the SMO, against Ukraine's supply lines, electrical grid, and air defenses. In particular, it dropped an Iskander missile on a Patriot missile battery. Patriots aren't operated by Ukies. They're operated by Americans because access to classified systems is required to make the systems work. Putin deliberately killed Americans in Ukraine and that's why Trump lost his shit. Putin did it because Trump is acting like he's not a participant, and he needed to understand that by giving the Ukies intel to take a shot at Putin himself, personally, he's holding Trump personally responsible. Trump could stop it and didn't. Trump is FA. Putin just helped him FO by sending American mercs home in a jar full of ashes.
If you caught Trump's sweet about a swam biting his friend, it was a metaphor for exactly this situation. Trump knows, and frankly, he needs to take personal responsibility for his role in this and pull the plug. No Starlink comms. No intel. No weapons. No money. Trump keeps the supply flowing and as long as he does, he's an active belligerent.
I think you have your finger on something. I haven't been comfortable with Trump's willingness to play a middle position. Which is more important? Saving lives or optics? Can't have them both.
Trump has used that line a hundred times before, he'll feign ignorance when useful.
Yes, it's expedient for him to not know.
I have read that he was informed by staff about the Putin situation just after he made the "Putin crazy" comment. Trump's reaction was, "So, that may be the reason..." Now he knows. Previous Putin comment "no longer operative."
He knows. The US gave Ukraine intel on the helicopter flight. The Ukies used it to take a shot at the king. They missed. Putin responded with a missile barrage, the largest to date in the SMO, against Ukraine's supply lines, electrical grid, and air defenses. In particular, it dropped an Iskander missile on a Patriot missile battery. Patriots aren't operated by Ukies. They're operated by Americans because access to classified systems is required to make the systems work. Putin deliberately killed Americans in Ukraine and that's why Trump lost his shit. Putin did it because Trump is acting like he's not a participant, and he needed to understand that by giving the Ukies intel to take a shot at Putin himself, personally, he's holding Trump personally responsible. Trump could stop it and didn't. Trump is FA. Putin just helped him FO by sending American mercs home in a jar full of ashes.
If you caught Trump's sweet about a swam biting his friend, it was a metaphor for exactly this situation. Trump knows, and frankly, he needs to take personal responsibility for his role in this and pull the plug. No Starlink comms. No intel. No weapons. No money. Trump keeps the supply flowing and as long as he does, he's an active belligerent.
I think you have your finger on something. I haven't been comfortable with Trump's willingness to play a middle position. Which is more important? Saving lives or optics? Can't have them both.