GOP Leaders Remain Silent on Trump’s Shift Toward Russia and Ukraine

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a striking departure from established U.S. foreign policy, President Donald Trump has taken a controversial stance supporting Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine. Within weeks of returning to the White House, Trump initiated negotiations with Russian officials while sidelining Ukrainian representatives, describing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” and aligning this rhetoric with that of the Kremlin.

Most Republicans previously condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and supported military aid for the Eastern European nation. However, many GOP lawmakers have grown reticent, leaving questions about their position under Trump’s leadership. To gauge this shift, The Atlantic reached out to all 271 Republican members of Congress, asking two direct questions: Did Russia invade Ukraine? Is Putin a dictator? As of now, only 25 responses have been received.

Some members were unequivocal in their responses. A spokesperson for Senator Susan Collins of Maine stated, “Yes and yes,” affirming both the invasion and Putin’s dictatorial status. Similarly, Representative Jeff Hurd of Colorado deemed the invasion “an unprovoked act of war,” labeling Putin as “undisputedly an enemy of America and a dictator.”

Conversely, several lawmakers opted to refer to earlier statements or provide vague responses instead of answering directly. For instance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson‘s office highlighted Trump’s deal-making prowess without addressing the questions. Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz‘s team referenced his past positions but did not offer a straightforward answer regarding the current crisis.

In an apparent contradiction to Trump’s narrative, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Representative Brian Mast of Florida, reinforced its stance by proclaiming on social media: “ON THE RECORD: Russia invaded Ukraine & Putin is a dictator.” This divergence from Trump’s rhetoric has led observers to question whether GOP leadership may ultimately reshape their discourse.

Others declined to respond, with Jonathan Wilcox, communications director for Representative Darrell Issa of California, arguing that the questions served a “narrow opinion journalism” objective rather than public interest.

The need for clarity on such issues is critical, particularly for those in Congress who influence national security policy. Public interest dictates that constituents understand their representatives’ positions on potential adversaries such as Putin’s Russia, especially as their views appear to pivot under Trump’s influence.

The Atlantic will continue to update the list of responses from GOP members as more answers come in. So far, several other notable responses have been documented, illustrating a split in stance within the party:

• Representative Young Kim of California expressed a clear “Yes to both” questions.
• Senator Jerry Moran acknowledged Putin’s invasion and confirmed he considers him a dictator.
• Representative Julie Fedorchak from North Dakota called the ongoing war one that has “cost countless lives and destabilized the world.”

While some maintain a firm stance against Putin, a considerable number remain silent or evasive in their responses, raising questions about the future of the Republican Party’s foreign policy direction amidst Trump’s controversial leadership.