Russia Invades Ukraine -- Trump Calls Putin "Genius" and "Savvy" as Bombs Fall on Kyiv (2022-02-24)

Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the largest conventional military attack in Europe since World War II. As missiles strike Kyiv and troops cross the border from multiple directions, former President Trump praises Vladimir Putin's tactics, calling the invasion "genius" and "savvy" in interviews and on social media. Trump says Putin took a "strong" country and turned it into an "even stronger" country by invading. The remarks draw bipartisan condemnation and highlight Trump's continued alignment with the Russian leader, even as the world unites to defend Ukraine. Trump also claims that the invasion "would never have happened" if he were president -- a baseless assertion that ignores his administration's own record of withholding aid from Ukraine.