1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

I am appalled by recent claims that Trump’s treatment of President Zelenskyy somehow made Russia “more afraid” of the U.S. That is an outright delusion. If anything, Putin is celebrating, watching the U.S. publicly degrade an ally who is fighting for his country’s very survival. The U.S. did not support Ukraine out of charity—we did so because standing against Russian aggression is in our own national security interests. To watch Trump humiliate Zelenskyy, instead of standing firm against Putin, was a shameful display of weakness that only emboldens authoritarian regimes. True leadership means reaffirming our commitment to Ukraine, strengthening alliances, and showing the world that America stands by its democratic partners. Instead, Trump’s actions sent the message that the U.S. is unreliable, unserious, and more interested in humiliating a wartime leader than confronting the real threat—Putin. This is not just shameful—it is dangerous. History will remember where leaders stood in this moment. I urge you to speak out, reject this betrayal of an ally, and take action to ensure that the U.S. does not abandon Ukraine when they need us most.