
I don’t think public opinion matters much to Trump right now but it certainly doesn’t hurt that according to this poll his embrace of Russia is pretty popular.
Now this contradicts some other polls so I don’t know how accurate it is. And who knows how people will see it after that display on Friday?
81 percent of respondents said Putin should not be trusted, including 73 percent of Republicans surveyed and 93 percent of Democrats.
Now that Trump says he trusts him because of all they went through together with “Russia, Russia, Russia” will Republicans change their mind?
This op-ed in the Wall St. Journal from last Friday before the blow up suggests they won’t:
Along with the serious implications of all this for America’s security and alliances, it is likely to cause domestic trouble for the president. The White House’s views on Ukraine are out of step not only with the country as a whole but with Republican voters.
Earlier this month, my organization, Razom, commissioned the Republican firm 1892 Polling to conduct a survey of 2024 GOP primary voters on their attitudes toward Ukraine. Majorities said they agreed Russia is the aggressor (69%), would support continued weapons assistance under certain circumstances (60%), and say they’re more likely to support aid for Ukraine when told Russia has kidnapped more than 19,000 Ukrainian children (71%).
Contrary to stereotype, Republican voters have nuanced views about America’s place in the world and Russia’s war. Their opinions on Ukraine are considered, internally coherent and broadly well-informed. Taken in aggregate, this constituency is unlikely to reward American politicians who empower Vladimir Putin.
Mr. Trump remains exceedingly popular among Republicans. Among those polled, 83% have a favorable opinion of him and respondents were much more likely to identify themselves as a “Trump Republican” (53%) than a part of the “traditional” Republican Party (38%). Republican voters revile Mr. Putin as much as they love Trump—83% view the Russian President unfavorably. Republican voters are split on Mr. Zelensky, with 43% viewing him favorably and 45% unfavorably.
The people who elected Mr. Trump and the Republican congressional majority understand the difference between the defenders on the wall and the marauders at the gate. They were asked which proposition they agreed with more: that Mr. Putin launched an unprovoked war to subjugate Ukraine, or that NATO expansion and Ukrainian belligerence sparked the war. By 70% to 15%, they chose the former. When Tucker Carlson travels to Moscow and hypes Russian supermarkets, his views are boosted by a small number of prominent influencers. But most Republican voters would likely think this fixation is bizarre.
On foreign policy, Republicans want Congress and the White House to tackle two core issues: the porous southern border and the growing influence of China. Everything else is an afterthought. Even those skeptical of continued U.S. aid to Ukraine would still vote for a lawmaker who backs it if he is aligned with the White House’s other priorities. The electoral record bears this out. Every Republican House member who voted for Ukraine aid in April 2024 went on to win his primary election.
That’s interesting, but then it’s in the WSJ which is still pro-Ukraine so, who knows what to think?
The news that the administration has ordered the U.S. Cyber Command to stand down from all planning against Russia seemed to come as a surprise to Republican officials but I doubt they care. Here’s from the man who always says the quiet part out loud:
Tuberville: "Zelenskyy's gonna play hardball, but you know what? He's not even in the game. It's gonna be Putin and President Trump and the people on our side that will end up making this decision for the future of Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/R1VVZesmDa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2025
He’s not right. Europe has something to say about this. But he’s certainly expressing Trump and the cowardly, traitorous sycophants like Marco Rubio who surround him.