Democrat troublemaker Ted Lieu has blamed Donald Trump for Alexei Navalny’s death in a Russian gulag during an eyebrow-raising interview.
The California representative raised the theory with MSNBC host Alex Witt. The penultimate president’s comments about NATO encouraged the Kremlin’s assassination. The host offered little resistance as the congressman made his comments.
Trump claimed he would encourage Russia to attack NATO members who failed to pay their share of the alliance’s budget, as he spoke at a rally over the weekend.
Navalny, the strongest opposition leader to Putin, was killed on Friday at the age of 47 in a penal colony known as the ‘Polar Wolf’ in Siberia.
“It’s quite a coincidence,” Lieu said of the timing, adding that “Russia certainly listened to Trump” and he gave them “the green light to do all kinds of crazy things.”
Democrat rioter Ted Lieu (pictured) has blamed Donald Trump for Alexei Navalny’s death in a Russian gulag in an eyebrow-raising interview
The California representative, along with MSNBC host Alex Witt, advanced the theory that the penultimate president’s comments about NATO encouraged the Kremlin’s assassination
Navalny, the strongest opposition leader to Putin, was killed on Friday at the age of 47 in a penal colony known as the ‘Polar Wolf’ in Siberia.
Lieu’s comment came after Witt brought up Navalny’s death and President Joe Biden’s response saying Putin was responsible.
“What do you think about this and how, if at all possible, should the US hold Russia accountable?” she asked.
“I think we have to ask ourselves: why did Navalny suddenly die at this moment?” Lieu said.
“First of all, I agree with President Biden that Russia is responsible for his death. And what happened in the few days leading up to his death?
“Well, we basically had former President Donald Trump say that Russia should attack European countries.”
Trump bragged at a MAGA rally in Conway, South Carolina, that if NATO allies hadn’t paid their bills, the U.S. wouldn’t defend them against Russia.
“I would even encourage them to do whatever they want,” Trump said. ‘You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.’
Lieu condemned this as ‘crazy, treacherous language’.
“Russia was definitely listening, and I think they thought, hey, we now have the green light to do all kinds of crazy things,” Lieu said.
Witt asked him if he was suggesting there could be “a direct link” between Trump’s comments and Navalny’s death. “Do you think this may have emboldened Putin?” she asked.
“I think it’s quite a coincidence,” Lieu replied. “And Russia certainly listens to what the former president says. He says crazy things.’
In stark contrast to other figures from the Western world, Trump also failed to condemn Navalny’s untimely death, despite speaking at several events this weekend.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley labeled his response “chilling” and said it showed he was siding with Putin.
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia Navalnaya in September 2020
Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles Friday as he visits a forge in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Navalny died while serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges widely recognized as politically motivated.
Together with his Anti-Corruption Foundation, he has been the main opposition figure against Putin over the past decade.
Russia’s prison service claimed the courageous leader died of “sudden death syndrome” after his collapse. Signs of bruising were reportedly found on his body.
“Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death,” President Joe Biden said in a White House statement.
“Even in prison, he was a powerful voice for the truth,” Biden continued, while US Vice President Kamala Harris added that the death was “a sign of Putin’s cruelty.”
Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, shared a touching photo of them together in happier times in a heartbreaking social media post. “I love you,” she wrote.