As the election day draws near, the Democrats and their media allies are once again raising the specter of alleged illicit ties between former President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
This renewed focus on the "Russia, Russia, Russia" narrative, as it has been dubbed, appears to be a sign of desperation on the part of the Democrats.
According to The New York Post, the latest allegations include claims that Trump maintained a close relationship with Putin during his presidency, even going as far as sending COVID testing equipment to Russia during the pandemic. Critics also express concern over Trump's continued communication with Putin after his term ended. Many of these stories are sourced from an upcoming book by renowned journalist Bob Woodward.
The Guardian, citing Woodward's work, ran a headline stating, "Trump secretly gave Putin Covid test machines." Axios, on the other hand, echoed Democratic accusations that Trump's calls with Putin "could be illegal," suggesting a potential indictment before the election.
The New York Times, in its characteristic anti-Trump fashion, speculated that the former president favors Russia over Ukraine because he believes Kyiv assisted Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and because he fell for Putin's narrative about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
These allegations are reminiscent of the years-long narrative of Trump-Russia "collusion," which, despite numerous investigations, failed to yield any substantial evidence beyond Trump's penchant for flattering those he wishes to influence. The new charges seem equally baseless. Even The New York Times concedes that Trump adopted a "relatively hawkish stance on Russia" during his presidency.
Critics also point to potential violations of the Logan Act, a 1799 law prohibiting private citizens from conducting foreign policy. However, many former presidents and officials, including Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Kerry, have engaged in policy discussions with foreign governments post-office, often contradicting the sitting president's stance.
The most absurd complaint, perhaps, is the claim that Trump provided Putin with COVID testing equipment in 2020. At a time when no treatment or vaccine was available, many countries were exchanging equipment and information to combat the virus. If anything, this could be seen as a strategic move to keep Putin appeased and deter any potential aggression towards Ukraine. Notably, Trump provided lethal weaponry to Ukraine, a departure from the Obama administration's policy.
The Democrats' desperation is palpable as polls show Vice President Kamala Harris losing ground. As a result, they seem to be resorting to the Russia narrative yet again. Even if it doesn't sway any votes, it certainly makes for enticing clickbait.
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