NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Senators for North Carolina and South Carolina found themselves on difficult footing this week after President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s president a dictator.
Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham, senior senators for the Carolinas, are strong supporters of Ukraine in their war against Russia. They both told reporters in recent days that Vladimir Putin is the dictator, not Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Tillis, who just came back from Ukraine a few days ago said there is no moral equivalency between Zelenskyy and Putin. The Hill reported that Tillis did push back on Trump’s criticism of the Ukrainian president, that he is the man to lead Ukraine. But during an appearance in Ukraine, he said Trump would not leave Ukraine out of negotiations.
“Does anybody really believe the United States would negotiate an agreement with a European nation that’s done what they’ve done on the battlefield that suffered what they have and not be at the table,” said Tillis.
Graham was asked about Trump’s comments on Wednesday. While he did say Putin was the true dictator, he steered most of his criticisms toward Democrats. Graham argued Trump is the only one who can get a good deal for Ukraine.
“To my democratic friends who are up in arms, you had a chance to deter a Russian invasion. You failed miserably. I think there’s one person that Putin really is afraid of, that’s Trump,” said Graham.
Queen City News spoke with political scientists from both states. The word on Tillis is he has some room politically to go against Trump on this issue.
“I think that this is a well-chosen issue. If he’s going to disagree with President Trump, this is the one. Even President Trump himself has been a little bit all over the map on this issue, so it’s a strategic decision,” said Chris Cooper with Western Carolina University.
Gibbs Knotts with Coastal Carolina University said the same can’t be said for Graham in the Palmetto state.
“If you’re a republican and you’re not on the side of Trump, it’s very, very precarious and you do open yourself up to a primary,” said Knotts.
An envoy for Trump met with President Zelenskyy in Ukraine on Thursday, but did not take questions from reporters.
