Vladimir Putin must really have some powerful “dirt” on Donald Trump. Recently, our neighbor Mexico tried to deliver oil to Cuba, where the population was without electricity for hospitals and households. Trump immediately told Mexico that if they did, he would raise monumental tariffs against Mexico. Yet a few weeks later, Russian oil tankers were allowed to sell Russian oil to Cuba despite sanctions against Russian oil sales. When asked about this “flip flop,” Trump said it was no big deal, it was only oil.

When our intelligence agencies told Trump that Russia had been helping Iran target our military locations and with defense against our military “excursion,” Trump asked Putin if it was true. Putin said no, so Trump refused to believe his own Intelligence experts.

Trump also has taken Russia’s side in its war in Ukraine, denying the fact that Russia’s invasion on a sovereign nation was a war crime. 

When the FBI investigated Russian Interference in the 2016 election and reported that Paul Manafort, a major member of the Trump campaign, was a Russian operative, Trump denied it and asked Putin if he had influenced the election. Putin said no, and that was the end of the investigation.

Putin appears to be the only world leader that Trump plays second fiddle to. The question is why? What does Putin know about our president that makes Trump so nervous and willing to forgive any transgression or war crimes Russia commits?

Hal Huestis
Eugene