RUSSIAN OPERATIVE

By Mickey Skidmore, AMHSW, ACSW, FAASW

It has been less than 100 days of Trump’s second term, yet the consensus for many is a sense of pervasive exhaustion. Even people in other countries are aghast by his toxic omnipresence — Trump seems to be everywhere!

As if deconstructing the constitution; dismantling the government; destroying the economy; defying Judges and otherwise eviscerating the rule of law were not enough — while he presses forward with his detailed plans outlined in his 2025 document — he is now extending his unique brand of Trumpian chaos internationally as well.  

By doubling down on his ill-conceived tariff strategy, he is already disrupting international economies. But the seismic shift was flipping on nearly 80 years of international foreign policy by aligning with Russia over European democracies. This specifically came to light in his sudden about face regarding the US position on Ukraine during Volodymyr Zelenskyy recent visit to the White House. Trump has falsely claimed that Ukraine was to blame for being invaded and attacked Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator.” Since then he has inserted himself into the international spotlight in his effort to negotiate an end to the Ukraine-Russian war that has now gone on for more than three years.

Attempting to negotiate the end of the war directly with Russia — in the Middle East, without Ukraine even present for the negotiations is not only consistent with his level of malignant narcissism, but clearly much more about rehabilitating Putin’s international standing. 

When Russia invaded Ukraine’s sovereign borders three years ago they were expelled from the G8, sanctioned by the West and ostracised on the global stage because of its aggression against Ukraine, essentially mobilised to isolate Putin in many respects. His pariah status was enshrined when the Hague issued warrants for his arrest to face multiple war crimes. It should be clear that Trump’s recent manoeuvres has far little to do with the war, and far more about disentangling Putin’s international isolation — even to the point of pushing for his reinstatement in the G7 club.

It is plainly absurd for this conflict to come to an end without Ukraine being directly involved in the negotiations. Perhaps Middle East nations and/or Trump can assist in facilitating or even mediating this. But what Trump has attempted to impose thus far is not a truce, but rather a surrender — and complete capitulation to Russia. Claiming “Ukraine doesn’t have the cards” — why would Zelenskyy or Ukraine agree to this?

This is not the first time that political pundits, observers and experts have notice or questioned Trump’s relations with Putin. There has been already been a Special Council investigation (Mueller) into Trump’s ties with Russia during his first presidential campaign in 2016. There has also been an impeachment over his attempt to extort Ukraine to investigate his political opponent (Biden). There has also been an alarming increase of GOP representatives and senators echoing Russian disinformation and talking points during Trump’s tenure.

To the dismay of Democrats, the election resulting in a small majority in the House of Representatives, as well as a small majority in the Senate, along with a Republic president in the Executive branch has made it difficult to stand up to these efforts. Take for example the recent continuing resolution issue to fund the Government essentially at current levels (with some requests for GOP projects like border control and immigration) for the next year. The GOP successfully boxed in the Democrats, leaving them with no good or even viable options. If they opposed the bill (resulting in a Government shut down), the damage to everyday American’s it can be argued may have been even worse than capitulating. In fact, they would in effect be doing the dirty work for DOGE and the GOP and never hired these people back anyway. Moreover, the Democrats would also risk being blamed for the shut down, which they have previously decried when Republicans have threatened to hold the country hostage in this manner to achieve its demands. Alternatively, by voting for this bill, their is considerable consternation from the Democratic base about not pushing back against the MAGA agenda resulting in division and the lowest ratings for the Democratic party in years — thereby strengthening Trump’s hand even further.

I’ve stated before, I understand Trump’s election is underscored by a desire for change. I’m just wondering when the American electorate will recognise that they have in fact elected the gaslighter-in-chief, who also just so happens to also be a Russian operative to be the president of the United States. And will there ever be a point in time when they will entertain his many questionable, concerning, alarming decisions or conduct as violation of the law or constitution — or will even treason be dismissed as part of his new found immunity as well?