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Donald Trump Jr. launched an online attack against the U.S. government's foreign policy and claimed Ukraine's war against Russia is "already lost."
Trump Jr. was responding to claims by controversial former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that American "uncles, cousins and sons" would be sent to fight in Ukraine if proper military funding for the country was not continued.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Trump Jr. told Austin to "Go F*** Yourself!" He continued: "America doesn't need to keep funding an endless war with no path to victory. If NATO is worried about Russia encroaching on NATO maybe they should be funding more of this but as always they let America do all the funding while they get virtually all the benefit.
"No more big wars no more funding the military industrial complex! For those of you who are idiots Ukraine lost this war quite some time ago we're just keeping them on life-support with never ending money!"
The White House and Austin have not commented on Carlson's accusation, who said the comment came from a "classified briefing."
Austin's office told Newsweek: "We're not going to respond to tweets from TV pundits. The DOD has been clear on our support for Ukraine through the unprecedented security assistance and other support provided as they defend themselves from Russian aggression."
Security expert Dr. Rod Thornton of the Defense Studies Department at King's College London told Newsweek there is a general consensus among a number of military analysts that the war in Ukraine is "static" and "will remain so for months to come."
Thornton said: "What we are going to end up is a frozen conflict... We are going to end up with Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine and the front lines aren't going to move.
"I'd say it isn't lost, [but] is isn't won either. Ukraine will lose territory but it will still maintain a functioning government in Kyiv linked to the West."
The White House's position is that funding for Ukraine is vital in that Vladimir Putin's Russia would win without it. This would lead to Putin rolling across the country and likely annexing it.
Doing so would add an extra border country to Russian occupied land that is a member of NATO. If Putin were to attack any of these countries, NATO members including the U.S. are required under the organization's Article 5 to respond.
Attacks on a NATO country are considered as "an armed attack against all members," under Article 5.
Many far-right Republicans commonly allied with former President Donald Trump are supportive of limiting funds to Ukraine or stopping them altogether.
It has become a recurring and contentious point in the House of Representatives. Conservatives argue the billions spent on funding Ukraine would be better spent elsewhere.
National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby argued for funding in a press conference earlier this week.
"If Putin gets all of Ukraine, then what?" he said. "Then where does he go? Because right then, he's up against the eastern flank of NATO. And if you think the cost of supporting Ukraine is high now, just imagine how much higher it's going to be—not just in national treasure, but in American blood—if he starts going after one of our NATO Allies.
"We take our Article 5 commitments very seriously. And what we've had over the last two years is a Ukraine—a Ukrainian military actually clawing back territory and pushing back Russian aggression without any foreign boots on the ground, including no American boots."
About the writer
Benjamin Lynch is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is U.S. politics and national affairs and he ... Read more