Rep. Madison Cawthorn.Photo: Zuma/SplashNews.com
North Carolina Rep.Madison Cawthornfaced backlash this week from Republicans and Democrats alike for insulting Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyand his government as they defend the country against attacks in an ongoingwar with Russia.
“Remember that Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt, and it is incredibly evil, and it has been pushing woke ideologies,” Cawthornsaid during a recent event with supporters.
Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, reminded Cawthorn that Russian PresidentVladimir Putinwas the one who chose to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24 and referred to him as “an actual murderous thug,” the paper reported.
A spokesperson for Cawthorn did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment but clarified his remarks in a statement to thePost.
“The Congressman was expressing his displeasure at how foreign leaders, including Zelensky, had recently used false propaganda to entice America into becoming involved in an overseas conflict,” Luke Ball said. “He supports Ukraine and the Ukrainian President’s efforts to defend their country against Russian aggression, but does not want America drawn into another conflict through emotional manipulation.”
On Twitter Thursday, Cawthorn called the actions of Russia and Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, “disgusting.”
“But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America,” he added in the tweet. “I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty
Cawthorn expressed support of former PresidentDonald Trumpin atweet on Thursday, sent just before the he wrote that he is praying for Ukraine. “How many times has Trump been proven right over the last year?” he wrote. “SO MANY!”
It’s not clear which instances the congressman was referring to, butTrump was widely condemnedfor calling Putin’s actions ahead of Russia’s attack “genius” and “very savvy.”
Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said it was “disturbing that [Cawthorn] sits in our classified briefings on Russian Ukraine war” in atweet on Thursday.
“Not sure now that is a good idea,” Gallego wrote. “On the plus side. The words used are very complex and it’s not just pictures so he may not be able to decode the brief.”
Republican strategist Karl Rove, who served in President George W. Bush’s White House, wrote in aWall Street Journalop-ed headlined"Republicans Stand Up for Ukraine"that Cawthorn and other members of the party “echoing Mr. Trump’s isolationism, and Kremlin apologetics are out of sync with GOP voters.”
source: people.com
