Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized former President Donald Trump’s response on Monday to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s sudden death last week.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Navalny’s death made him “more aware of what is happening” in the U.S., pointing to “open borders, rigged elections, and grossly unfair courtroom decisions.” Haley, who is trailing far behind the former president in the Republican presidential primary, said Trump’s response appeared to come out of the “liberals’ playbook.”
“Donald Trump could have condemned Vladimir Putin for being a murderous thug. Trump could have praised Navalny’s courage. Instead, he stole a page from liberals’ playbook, denouncing America and comparing our country to Russia,” the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post.
Before Trump issued his statement on Navalny, Haley slammed her Republican rival for his silence on the reports of the death of the 47-year-old critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She also accused Trump of “encouraging” Putin to invade NATO countries after Trump suggested last week that he “would not protect” NATO allies who don’t pay their fair share if they were invaded by Russia, adding that he once told a NATO leader he would “encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want.”
“One week ago, Donald Trump encouraged Putin to invade NATO countries. Now, it’s been more than 24 hours since we learned of the death of Alexei Navalny, and Trump has yet to say his name,” Haley posted last week. “We cannot have a president who sides with murderous thugs who want to destroy America.”
Haley also joined CNN on Friday, telling anchor Kaitlan Collins it’s “a problem” that Trump “can’t call out a dictator,” referring to Putin.
Navalny, a critic of Putin, died in a remote Russian prison on Friday after losing consciousness following a walk, according to Russian authorities. Navalny’s death was immediately viewed as suspicious by U.S. leaders since the opposition leader previously said he was poisoned by Russia in 202o. The U.S. determined in 2021 that the Russian government used a chemical weapon against him.
Throughout his time behind bars, Navalny held that his charges and convictions were politically motivated. He also complained in a letter sent in 2021 that his health was worsening in prison, and he was not receiving adequate medical care.
Trump’s statement — which made no mention of Putin — came days after U.S. leaders, including President Joe Biden, blamed the Russian leader for Navalny’s death.
“Russian authorities are going to tell their own story. But make no mistake, make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible,” Biden said in a Friday press conference. “What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality. No one should be fooled — not in Russia, not at home, not anywhere in the world — Putin does not only target citizens of other countries … He also inflicts terrible crimes of his own people.”
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