Garamendi criticizes Trump-Zelenskyy meeting over alignment with Putin

Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi expressed his disapproval of former President Donald Trump's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Garamendi, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, released a statement condemning Trump's actions during the meeting.

Garamendi criticized Trump for aligning himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as "shocking" and accusing Trump of berating Zelenskyy amidst Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia. He stated, "President Donald Trump not only blamed President Zelenskyy for Russia’s brutal invasion but also refused to retract his disgraceful comment calling Zelenskyy a ‘dictator.’"

Reflecting on his experience working with past presidents since Jimmy Carter, Garamendi noted that he had never seen such abandonment of an ally by a U.S. president. He remarked on the dangerous implications this could have for Europe.

The statement further addressed Trump's previous comments about being a dictator from "day one," suggesting that his alignment with Putin was consistent with those remarks. Garamendi emphasized America's historical role in promoting democracy and respecting international boundaries post-World War II.

Garamendi concluded by questioning whether Republicans would support Ukraine or continue to follow Trump's approach. He affirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine alongside Congressional Democrats against what he described as unprovoked aggression.