🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
When asked about former President Donald Trump's recent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said, "I have no words."
On Tuesday, Trump celebrated Putin's aggression against Ukraine as "genius" and "wonderful," lauding Putin as "tough" and patriotic while speaking on the conservative talk radio program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.
Video of Trump's former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, calling Putin "very shrewd" and "very capable" during a January Fox News interview, has also recently aired on Russian television.
When asked about Trump's and Pompeo's recent compliments for the Russian president, state department spokesperson Ned Price replied, "I have no response. In fact, I have no words."
The U.S. State Department has been busy responding to Russia's increased aggression against Ukraine. Russia has amassed an estimated 190,000 troops at the countries' shared border and is expected to launch a full-scale invasion within the next 48 hours.
Over the weekend, Russia recognized the independence of two Russian-controlled territories in east Ukraine—the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. Russia has armed, financed and politically controlled separatist factions in the regions since 2014, according to The Guardian.
After recognizing the regions, Russia sent its military on a so-called peacekeeping mission to those territories and announced its intention to occupy them as well. Putin has said that he essentially views the territories as part of Russia. Putin also said his aggression was in response to Ukraine's possible entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the multinational force that seeks to limit military influence in Europe of Russia and other countries.
The U.S., the European Union and NATO all denounced Russia's actions and pledged countermeasures and sanctions.
Despite this, Trump, who repeatedly praised Putin during Trump's 2016 election campaign and ensuing presidency, publicly praised Putin as recently as Tuesday.
"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine ... as independent," Trump said. "Oh, that's wonderful. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."
"I mean, you know, he's a tough cookie, got a lot of the great charm and a lot of pride. But the way he—and he loves his country, you know? He loves his country," Trump continued.
Trump called the Russian military buildup on the Russia-Ukraine border "the strongest peace force I've ever seen."
"There were more army tanks than I've ever seen," he added. "They're going to keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here's a guy who's very savvy ... I know [Putin] very well—very, very well."
When asked about Trump's praise of Putin, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki replied on Wednesday, "Well, as a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there; expresses an openness to lifting sanctions about the seizing of territory in Crimea; or, at any point in time, told leaders of the G7 that Crimea is a part of Russia, regardless if they are a former president."
Newsweek contacted Trump's office for comment.
