Former President Trump claims to have effectively handled relations with Russia, preventing global conflicts that have occurred under the current administration.
Former President Donald Trump asserted his toughness on Russia during a Fox News town hall in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, claiming that he averted several international conflicts that have erupted since he left office.
"I was the toughest on Russia. Putin would even say, you know, if you're not the toughest guy, you are, you're killing us," Trump said to Sean Hannity, referring to his actions opposing the Nord Stream pipeline. "I'd hate to see you if you were really tough.""This was the biggest job they've ever had and I stopped it."
Trump: I 'Shut Down' Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
Trump further stated, "We have things going on in the world right now with Israel and with the Middle East, it's blowing up. It's blowing up. We have Ukraine and Russia. That would never happen. That would have never happened. October 7th would have never happened. If I were the president, they would have never happened. And everybody knows it."
Trump emphasized that he prioritized world peace during his presidency, saying, "That was the question they asked Viktor Orban, who is considered a very strong man. They said, 'he's a strong man,'" Trump said. "Sometimes you need a strong man. He's a strong man. He's the prime minister of Hungary.""And he said, you bring back Trump, everybody. Now I'm not saying it, but he said it because I'd rather say respect. But he said everybody was afraid of Trump. You bring him back, you're not going to have any problems. It's all going to go away. The world is blowing up."
Trump: I 'Shut Down' Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
Trump expressed concern about the escalating global tensions, declaring, "We're heading into World War three territory."
Fox News polling indicates that foreign policy is not a top priority for voters in the upcoming 2024 election, with only 4% ranking it as their most important issue. However, the poll reveals that Trump leads by 5 points in terms of who voters believe is better suited to handle foreign policy.
Trump: I 'Shut Down' Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
Trump's claims regarding his handling of Russia-US relations and his ability to prevent global conflicts are not supported by a consensus among foreign policy experts. Many analysts argue that Trump's actions, such as his withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and his imposition of tariffs on European allies, weakened the transatlantic alliance and emboldened Russia.
Nevertheless, Trump maintains his stance on his effectiveness in dealing with Russia, contrasting it with the current administration's approach that he believes has led to increased tensions and instability in the world.
Trump: I 'Shut Down' Russia's Nord Stream 2 Pipeline
