Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, talk radio icon Howard Stern has some thoughts on both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Republicans who have voiced support for him in recent days. In true Sternian form, he is not mincing words.
Stern's comments came during Monday's episode of his long-running SiriusXM radio show, The Howard Stern Show.
In it, Stern excoriated Republicans like former President Donald Trump have cheered on Putin, whom Stern called a "f*cking animal," and vowed to never vote for a Republican ever again.
Hear his rant below.
"I voted for many Republicans. I don\u2019t see how I\u2019ll ever get back to that. They\u2019ve just totally disappointed me and their support of Vladimir Putin, the praise they heap on him. Trump\u2019s praise of Vladimir Putin. This guy is a f*cking animal." \u2014@HowardStern https://mediaite.com/a/xtzup\u00a0pic.twitter.com/ccYRshIQOh— Mediaite (@Mediaite) 1646081446
In his rant, Stern lashed out at his former political party for some of its members' support of Putin.
“I used to love the Republicans. And their stance is firmly anti-communist — pro-capitalist, anti-communist and certainly a staunch defender of free people and free elections."
"I voted for many Republicans. I don’t see how I’ll ever get back to that. They’ve just totally disappointed me and their support of Vladimir Putin, the praise they heap on him. Trump’s praise of Vladimir Putin."
Stern then gave a no-holds-barred summation of his feelings for Putin himself.
"This guy’s a fu*king animal. I wish he was dead like I wish Hitler was dead.”
Most sitting Republicans seem to be appalled by Putin's invasion, and even Trump has modified his pro-Putin rhetoric in recent days as the horrific and terrifying approach he's taken to Ukraine has come into focus.
But just days ago, former President Trump praised Putin as "genius" and "savvy" for his invasion plans, and that praise has been repeatedly echoed by Republican politicians like Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and prominent right-wing voices like Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Senate Candidate JD Vance and former Democratic Presidential Candidate Tulsi Gabbard.
Other high-profile Republican politicians have stopped short of supporting Putin themselves but have repeatedly refused to condemn Trump's adulation of the Russian dictator, like Senators Tom Cotton, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio.
On Twitter, people cheered Stern's excoriation of Republicans who support Putin's murderous invasion.
Gotta love Howard Sternhttps://twitter.com/realTuckFrumper/status/1498677718149386252\u00a0\u2026— voteblue2020\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@voteblue2020\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1646156191
Did you hear Howard Stern said he\u2019d likely NEVER vote for another Republican? \n\nAnyone else feel that way?— Nathalie Jacoby (@Nathalie Jacoby) 1646176947
I agree with Howard Stern.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1498438185235492870\u00a0\u2026— I Eat NO For Breakfast! (@I Eat NO For Breakfast!) 1646161322
Thank you Howard Stern. Thank you, thank you. You have such a powerful voice and platform.— judy longoria (@judy longoria) 1646089935
I was a life long GOP supporter, I will never a vote for a GOP candidate up or down ballot again.— Anonymous Source (@Anonymous Source) 1646161384
I made up my mind in 2016 I will never vote for a Republican again .If your a Republican, I don\u2019t know if you can be trusted especially if you voted for trump twice.— Naomi (@Naomi) 1646089471
Amenhttps://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1498718182969942019\u00a0\u2026— radiomadisonlikesvaccines\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b (@radiomadisonlikesvaccines\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b) 1646170709
Nice to hear Howard speak up. He told us in the beginning of Trumps reign \u201cthis will not end well\u201d— Cap (@Cap) 1646149395
Howard Stern: smarter and more principled than Tucker Carlson.https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1498438185235492870\u00a0\u2026— FutureExpat (@FutureExpat) 1646166678
I wasn\u2019t a big fan of Howard\u2019s in the past. I have definitely become one.— Riley Resists (@Riley Resists) 1646091632
Stern went on to further criticize Putin, calling him a "scumbag" and a "megalomaniac." Let's hope the rest of the Republican party comes around to his way of thinking.
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