Rep. Liz Cheney, a former outspoken critic of Trump, warned that the Republican "Putin" faction was emerging and stressed the importance of preventing it from returning to the White House.
In an interview with CNN's State of the Union address, Cheney harshly criticized Trump's recent remarks, suggesting that he would not defend NATO allies after Russia's attack, as well as his recent silence following the death of Alexei Navalny, the leader of Russia's anti-corruption, pro-democracy opposition.
I think we have to take Donald Trump very seriously," Cheney said Sunday. "We have to be serious about how much you have the Republican Putin wing right now.
I think the issue with this election cycle is to make sure that the Republican Putin faction doesn't take over the West Wing of the White House," she continued.
In the interview, she did not make any endorsements and said that she has not yet decided whether she will run for the election. However, she made it clear that she would do everything she could to prevent Trump from returning to the White House.
As you pointed out, Donald Trump said a few days ago that he told NATO allies that he would encourage [Russian Vladimir Putin] to do whatever he needs to do, whatever he wants to do," Cheney told CNN anchor Jack Tapper.
He has basically made it clear that under Trump**, the United States is unlikely to keep its commitments to NATO. I think those Republicans who understand the importance of the situation and continue to support him will be held accountable as well," she said.
Asked about Trump's NATO comments, Cheney said: "It's shameful. I can't imagine any other American** on either side of NATO saying such a thing since the inception of NATO. And it is completely uninformed, ignorant and dangerous.
Cheney also linked Trump's frequent hints that he would investigate his political opponents in his second term to Navalny's death.
"When you think of Donald Trump's promise of revenge, for example, what Vladimir Putin did to Navalny is what revenge looks like in a country whose leaders are not bound by the rule of law," Cheney said.
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