Last night, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the fledgling Democratic nation and western ally that broke from Russia in 1991. The attacks came from the east, the west, and the south, by land, air, and sea.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law as explosions rocked multiple cities in the nation, including its capital, Kyiv. The leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called the invasion a "brutal act of war," and President Joe Biden promised to meet with G7 leaders ahead of announcing additional sanctions against Russia.
As the invasion was unfolding, former President Donald Trump called in to far-right Fox News host Laura Ingraham's broadcast, where he continued to spout fantasies that the 2020 election was somehow "stolen" from him.
Watch below.
Laura Ingraham and the former president are blaming Biden for Russian aggression. Sick and twisted stuff. pic.twitter.com/u8dl7Fw9tt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 24, 2022
Trump said:
"[Putin] was going to be satisfied with the peace and now he sees the weakness and the incompetence and the stupidity of this administration. And as an American, I'm angry about it and I'm saddened by it, and it all happened because of a rigged election. This would have never happened, and that includes inflation, and that includes millions of people pouring in on a monthly basis. Far more than 3 million people, and they're coming from 129 different countries. We have no idea what's happening, and they're destroying our country."
The rant, laden with conspiracy theories and xenophobia, was all too predictable from Trump, whose election lies resulted in a deadly failed insurrection against the U.S. Capitol last year, and whose first impeachment centered around pressuring Ukraine's President to investigate the Bidens in order to secure congressionally-approved military aid. Trump also frequently defended Putin's lie that Russia didn't interfere with the 2016 presidential election, despite overwhelming evidence that it did.
Social media users were nonetheless disgusted.
Trump let Putin get away with an attack on the United States. He even aided and abetted the attack. He embraced and emboldened an aggressive and corrupt autocrat. And everyone who supported Trump contributed to this empowerment of Putin. https://t.co/UABg0sEmRG
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 24, 2022
Two treasonous fools casually having a conversation undercutting our President on the possible precipice of WWIII.
One idiot desperately seeks ratings while the other idiot is still mad he got his butt whupped in an election.
F*** ‘em both. And F*** anyone who agrees with them. https://t.co/NE9YKJyfoF
— John Rocha aka The Outlaw Nation (@TheRochaSays) February 24, 2022
Trump is on Laura Ingraham blaming the Russian invasion into Ukraine on..wait for it..the rigged election. Unreal..pic.twitter.com/vdtcPxjg1F
— Nathan Wind (@matty_angles) February 24, 2022
Hell is going to be packed when all this is over. https://t.co/d1YMJTogFK
— Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) February 24, 2022
How on earth could any channel air this? I know it’s Fox- but I’m pretty sure this is low even for them. Absolutely repulsive. https://t.co/8wdFFVNUeo
— Steph ❤️❤️ BLM (@BrkMeLikAPromis) February 24, 2022
PATHETIC. fox news is bad for America. https://t.co/5jxnW3x7X0
— arman walker (@armanwalker) February 24, 2022
Others emphasized the danger and death facing Ukrainians as Trump spewed these conspiracy theories.
Trump said: “It’s all the result of a rigged election.” Countless Ukrainians will be dead by sunrise, but Trump is *always* the victim. https://t.co/8owhtoLfkj
— Sanho Tree (@SanhoTree) February 24, 2022
Wait until videos come out tomorrow of damage and casualties. Fox News tried spinning Death for the Pandemic, so I expect nothing less from them tomorrow about blaming Ukraine and praising Russia. Especially from its No. 1 Cheerleader. pic.twitter.com/wBwnLJdlKH
— talkie (@Talkie86) February 24, 2022
Somehow Donald Trump ties Russia's invasion of Ukraine to a "rigged and stolen election."
It's always about him. What a POS. https://t.co/QEI26xgufn
— towns (@towns) February 24, 2022
The situation in Ukraine is still unfolding.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images