Trump Eases Russia Sanctions. What Did Putin Give Back?

On October 9th, Trump announced America would buy Russian diesel and asked Putin for nothing.

That's not the art of the deal.

That's the art of the yard sale.

Then his administration pressured Ukraine to stop hitting Russian oil refineries in the middle of an invasion.

That's telling a guy in a bar fight, could you stop punching back? It's disrupting the other guy's supply chain.

Then Trump suspended Russian sanctions he had just signed into law.

He treats laws the way he treats wedding vows, binding until something shinier walks by.

Trump also keeps berating Ukraine's President Zelensky and saying he should be replaced.

Putin wants Zelensky replaced too.

When you share HR goals with the invader, you're not a mediator, you're the invader's recruiter.

Donald Trump keeps handing Vladimir Putin gifts and Putin keeps giving back nothing.

Trump even said Russia has been fine on Ukraine.

The same week, a Russian strike hit a Kiev apartment building.

Now, I get the appeal.

Supporters say cheaper diesel helps families before the midterms and a friendly Putin might end the war.

I'd love both.

But Putin gave up zero.

So let me translate.

There's no evidence Putin pays Trump.

That's the scary part.

Most people sell out for money.

Trump sells out for admiration.

He doesn't admire dictators the way you admire a sports car.

He admires them the way an eighth grader admires the kid who already has a mustache.

Putin has no term limits.

On October 9th, Trump announced America would buy Russian diesel and asked Putin for nothing.

That's not the art of the deal.

That's the art of the yard sale.

Then his administration pressured Ukraine to stop hitting Russian oil refineries in the middle of an invasion.

That's telling a guy in a bar fight, could you stop punching back? It's disrupting the other guy's supply chain.

Then Trump suspended Russian sanctions he had just signed into law.

He treats laws the way he treats wedding vows, binding until something shinier walks by.

Trump also keeps berating Ukraine's President Zelensky and saying he should be replaced.

Putin wants Zelensky replaced too.

When you share HR goals with the invader, you're not a mediator, you're the invader's recruiter.

Donald Trump keeps handing Vladimir Putin gifts and Putin keeps giving back nothing.

Trump even said Russia has been fine on Ukraine.

The same week, a Russian strike hit a Kiev apartment building.

Now, I get the appeal.

Supporters say cheaper diesel helps families before the midterms and a friendly Putin might end the war.

I'd love both.

But Putin gave up zero.

So let me translate.

There's no evidence Putin pays Trump.

That's the scary part.

Most people sell out for money.

Trump sells out for admiration.

He doesn't admire dictators the way you admire a sports car.

He admires them the way an eighth grader admires the kid who already has a mustache.

Putin has no term limits.