Staff Reports
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley took a swipe at former President Donald Trump after the mysterious death of Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, in a Russian prison. She called out Trump for his praise and defense of Putin, pointing to a comment he made during his 2016 presidential campaign where he seemingly downplayed Putin’s alleged involvement in the deaths of political opponents.
Haley hits Trump after Putin critic Navalny’s mysterious death in Russian prison https://t.co/pSQFE4yT5G via @dcexaminer
— Julia Johnson (@juliaajohnson_) February 16, 2024
Haley didn’t hold back, blasting Trump for his apparent cozy relationship with Putin and his failure to denounce the Russian leader in the wake of Navalny’s suspicious demise. She took to social media to express her dismay, highlighting Trump’s past remarks about Putin and calling attention to his silence on Navalny’s death.
The Russian prison service claimed that Navalny suddenly fell ill and lost consciousness after a walk in penal colony number 3. Navalny, at just 47 years old, was a notable opposition figure in Putin’s regime. Despite the gravity of the situation, Trump has yet to publicly address Navalny’s death, and even his campaign remained tight-lipped when questioned by the Washington Examiner.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris made a stark declaration at the Munich Security Conference, placing blame squarely on Russia for Navalny’s demise. She emphasized that regardless of the narrative put forth by Russian authorities, Russia bears responsibility for what transpired.
Navalny’s passing occurred amid ongoing discussions in Congress about providing support to Ukraine, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of the country. The Senate recently greenlit a $95.3 billion package that includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but the bill’s fate in the House hangs in the balance.
As the world grapples with the implications of Navalny’s death and its impact on geopolitics, the absence of a strong stance from Trump raises questions about his approach to the complex and precarious relationship between the United States and Russia.
