Donald Trump Jr. once again took aim at Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by suggesting the United States should stop backing the Ukrainian war effort because Zelenskyy once appeared in a sketch as part of a boy band who wore heels and revealing clothing.
Before entering politics, Zelenskyy was a well-known comic actor who appeared on several sketch shows on Ukrainian television. One such program showcased him and fellow actors performing as Kazaky, a once-popular boy band whose members became known for performing in high heels.
Trump Jr. proceeded to attack Zelenskyy by linking him to Dr. Anthony Fauci—leader of the U.S. COVID-19 response—and climate activist Greta Thunberg when he wrote:
"Just so we understand this is the leader of the left’s new religion, Ukraine. He replaced Lord Fauci who replaced goddess Greta as the leader of the leftist lunacy movement."
"Give him all of your money forever it doesn’t matter how much or for what… the Gods have spoken!”
You can see Trump Jr.'s tweet below.
While Trump Jr.'s post appeared to capitalize at least in part on the recent right-wing frenzy against drag performers who Republicans have baselessly accused of grooming children, many were quick to remind him of his father's own history with drag and sketch comedy.
In 2004, former Republican President Donald Trump—then at the height of his reality show fame—appeared on Saturday Night Live to promote "Donald Trump's House of Wings," a fictional establishment defined by his bright yellow suit and surrounded by people in chicken costumes.
Just a few years prior, Trump appeared in a skit with then-New York City Mayor and future Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani for 2000’s Inner Circle Show, an event put on by the media to lampoon New York's political figures.
Footage of the event shows Trump pretending to flirt with Giuliani while wearing a wig and a dress.
Trump Jr. was swiftly criticized.
Trump Jr. has a history of attacking Zelenskyy and undermining the Ukraine war effort.
In December 2022, he referred to Zelenskyy as an "international welfare queen" ahead of Zelenskyy's address to Congress, which marked his first foreign visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
He has also repeatedly shared conspiracy theories about the war in Ukraine, even going so far as to disseminate disinformation linked to Russia's Internet Research Agency—also known as the Glavset—which is engaged in online propaganda and influence operations on behalf of Russian business and political interests.
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