Some Republican lawmakers have criticized President Donald Trump for calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator,” while others support his push for elections in Ukraine.

Over the past few days, Trump has intensified his criticism of both Ukraine and Zelensky personally.

Following a U.S.-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia aimed at resetting diplomatic ties and exploring peace negotiations in Ukraine, Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he accused Kyiv of starting the war and claimed Zelensky was incapable of negotiating a peace deal.

The next day, Trump escalated his attacks in a Truth Social post, describing Ukraine as “in ruins” and calling Zelensky an “unelected dictator.”

“He refuses to hold elections, has extremely low approval ratings in Ukraine, and the only thing he’s good at is manipulating Joe Biden,” Trump wrote.

His remarks starkly contrast the bipartisan U.S. support for Ukraine over the past three years, which has focused on defending Ukraine’s sovereignty against Russian aggression.
Republican Lawmakers Push Back Against Trump

Trump’s harsh rhetoric has triggered rare public criticism from within his own party—though most lawmakers avoided directly attacking the president.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune dismissed Trump’s claim that Ukraine started the war, emphasizing that Russia’s invasion was an undeniable fact.

“The president has the right to his opinions, but the reality of who started this war is clear,” Thune said. However, he declined to comment on Trump’s “dictator” remark and instead expressed hope that U.S.-Russia talks would lead to an end to the conflict.

Other Republican senators also distanced themselves from Trump’s choice of words.

Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would never use the term “dictator” to describe Zelensky, but avoided commenting on Trump’s broader remarks.
Senator Susan Collins echoed Murkowski’s stance.
Senator Mike Rounds stressed that Zelensky is a legitimately elected leader.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon rejected Trump’s claims about Zelensky’s approval rating, pointing to recent polls showing over 50% support for the Ukrainian president. He also refuted Trump’s claim that the U.S. has given Ukraine more aid than Europe, noting that EU nations have contributed more overall.

Some Republicans were more outspoken in condemning Trump’s remarks.

Senator John Neely Kennedy openly disagreed with Trump.

Former Vice President Mike Pence directly challenged Trump on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“Ukraine did not start this war. Russia launched an unprovoked attack, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths.”

Pence emphasized that the path to peace must be based on truth, calling Russia’s invasion “the largest military aggression in Europe since World War II.”

Trump’s Supporters Defend His Attacks on Kyiv

Despite criticism, some Republicans supported Trump’s stance, particularly his demand that Ukraine hold elections.

Senator Josh Hawley, a staunch Trump ally who backed efforts to overturn the 2020 election, argued that Zelensky should have held elections as his term expired in May 2024.

“Zelensky was elected, but when his term is up, he should call for new elections,” Hawley said. “It’s concerning that Ukraine hasn’t held a vote for so long, especially when we’re sending them billions in aid.”

Ukraine remains under martial law due to the war, which legally allows the postponement of elections under its constitution. However, Hawley dismissed this reasoning, pointing out that the U.S. and the UK held elections during World War II.

Some Republicans argued that Trump’s inflammatory remarks were simply part of his negotiation strategy to force a quicker end to the war.

Senator Kevin Cramer acknowledged that Trump’s statements contained inaccuracies but suggested they were deliberate tactics.

“The president is a negotiator and always flexible,” Cramer said. “Right now, he’s likely in the middle of intense negotiations and doing it publicly.”

Cramer insisted that Trump remains focused on ending the war while prioritizing American interests.

“Trump is setting objectives and pushing for an ‘America First’ approach. We must remember that his goal is clear: to end this war,” he said.
Republican Party Remains Divided Over Ukraine

Trump’s latest attacks on Ukraine have widened the internal divide within the Republican Party over U.S. support for Kyiv.

While some lawmakers remain firmly committed to backing Ukraine, others are aligning with Trump’s growing skepticism toward continued U.S. military and financial aid.

As Trump intensifies his push for a negotiated settlement with Russia, his criticisms of Zelensky and Ukraine are reshaping the Republican Party’s stance—raising uncertainty about how the U.S. will approach the war if Trump secures another term in office.

(Sources: The Washington Post, AP)

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