Trump’s ex-adviser opens up what Putin is doing with US president

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Retired U.S. Army lieutenant general Herbert Raymond McMaster has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for manipulating former U.S. President Donald Trump in relation to the war in Ukraine.

McMaster, who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2017 to 2018, is known for his military roles in the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During an appearance on CBS Mornings, as the war in Ukraine marked its third anniversary, McMaster challenged some of Trump’s recent statements, including the claim that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war. He expressed concern that Trump’s comments misrepresented the situation, calling them “not true.”

The retired general emphasized that Putin was exploiting Trump, saying, “He (Trump) would have this long conversation with Putin.” McMaster pointed out that it was particularly striking that U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were overseas when Trump made these controversial remarks.

He said Putin “plays Trump with the prospects of a big deal…you know that he could be the peacemaker. He gives him his warped version of history.”

“That’s what you heard from Donald Trump,” McMaster remarked. “Those were all the Kremlin’s talking points that you heard him roll out.”

Responding to Gayle King’s question about Putin’s “manipulation of Trump” as outlined in McMaster’s book, the former National Security Advisor confirmed his earlier assessment. He noted that the Kremlin had closely studied Trump and appeared to exploit his personality, particularly through flattery, which seems to resonate with the former president.

McMaster also pointed out that Putin’s praise of Trump is strategic, aiming to create the false impression that Trump could facilitate peace—though McMaster believes this would be an “appeasement-based peace.”

When asked whether Putin genuinely seeks peace, McMaster stated that Putin’s ultimate goal is to dominate Ukraine, a desire that has existed since he took power. He explained that this aggression is part of a broader pattern since Putin’s rise to the presidency 25 years ago, highlighting a range of Russian actions against Europe.

McMaster also noted that the war in Ukraine is part of a wider shadow conflict across Europe, citing incidents like cutting undersea cables, setting fire to warehouses, and using incendiary bombs on aircraft. He further explained that Putin’s influence extends to areas like Belarus, Romania, Slovakia, Georgia, and Moldova, and he is unlikely to stop until he faces resistance.

Despite this, McMaster remains confident that NATO could handle Russia even without U.S. support, stating that the defense budgets of NATO member states are sufficient to fund Ukraine’s needs.

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