Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was sharply criticized by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the star witness during former President Donald Trump's first impeachment, after she tried to blame the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine on President Joe Biden.
In a tweet, Greene suggested innocent people are dying because of Biden's "poor decision making leading up to Putin declaring war on Ukraine," but her claim was swiftly shut down by Vindman, who said Greene and her "pro-Putin party encouraged Putin to invade, by cheerleading him."
Vindman, who originally hailed from Kyiv, said Greene and her fellow Republicans undermined Biden's "efforts to signal punishing costs" and further "undermined U.S. efforts deter the war," assuring her that the American people "will not forget" her or the Republican Party's behavior.
Nope. It\u2019s because you and your pro-Putin party encouraged Putin to invade, by cheerleading him. Worse yet, you undermined @POTUS efforts to signal punishing costs\u2026 you undermined U.S. efforts deter the war. You have blood in your hands. The American people will not forget.https://twitter.com/repmtg/status/1500539458172690439\u00a0\u2026— Alexander S. Vindman (@Alexander S. Vindman) 1646607710
Greene later referred to Vindman as a "clown" and accused him of angling for the United States to enter the conflict, recommending that he "go ahead and fight yourself since you're from Ukraine."
This clown wants to drag Americans into war with Russia with his big tough tweets and his zoom interviews on CNN.\n\nGo ahead and go fight yourself since you\u2019re from Ukraine.\n\nYou are clueless about Americans being fed up with sending our sons and daughters to die in foreign lands.https://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene) 1646659845
In the weeks leading up to Russian President Vladimir Putin giving the order for his troops to invade Ukraine, Greene positioned herself as one of the Republican Party's biggest instigators, claiming that Biden is only defending Ukraine against Russian aggression because of his son, Hunter, further elevating discredited conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden's business dealings.
To hear Greene tell it, she is speaking out against the war to honor many Americans' preference for a more isolationist foreign policy despite the fact that she recently claimed that Biden wants a war with Russia because Ukraine has "dirt" on Hunter, suggesting that Biden is willing to wage war with a major nuclear power to protect his son from blowback.
Vindman was praised for speaking out and many echoed his criticisms of Greene.
We have not forgotten. Our hearts and minds are with right now, but 06Jan and the actions of the GQP and all leading up to and after have everything to do with Putin's murderous rampage. This will be answered.\n@AVindmanhttps://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— jlee (@jlee) 1646684272
Well said from an acknowledged expert to a total moron.https://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— DouglasH (@DouglasH) 1646676397
Look at the ratio of a true patriot vs a vile, loudmouth @RepMTG All respect to @AVindman #RightMattershttps://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— Buck Ocean (@Buck Ocean) 1646689946
.@AVindman is a #HERO but the #GOPBetrayedAmerica & wants to pin the blame on everybody else.https://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— Missy Delaware \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Missy Delaware \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1646676279
Vindman is right. \n\nHe's smart. He's for good. We believe him.https://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— CX-Ray (@CX-Ray) 1646688243
Thank you for stating the truth so succinctly @AVindman! 100% agree.https://twitter.com/avindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— Kimmy R (@Kimmy R) 1646681469
Thank you for speaking out. America has to understand TRUTH! God bless you.https://twitter.com/avindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— CatholicsForBiden (@CatholicsForBiden) 1646671288
I suggest that we take Lt. Col. Vindman's promise -- "We will not forget" -- as our new banner against fascist enemies of democracy at home and abroad, esp as we head into midterms. Trumpism is Putinism. Remember #January6th. Remember #Ukraine. #DoNotForget #DNFhttps://twitter.com/AVindman/status/1500607618901057536\u00a0\u2026— Baz \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udf0d (@Baz \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udf0d) 1646679839
Vindman has previously gone on record calling Trump Putin's "useful idiot" and "an unwitting agent of Putin" since providing testimony that former President Trump attempted to coerce Ukraine and other foreign nations into undermining Biden's candidacy.
Trump's first impeachment was initiated in part because he'd encouraged Ukrainian leadership to investigate then-candidate Biden for “political dirt” he could wield against his opponent.
Trump was ultimately acquitted by the Senate in early 2020 following a highly contentious trial and he touted the acquittal as a sign of his innocence in the matter, which he has claimed, without evidence, was a Democratic plot to topple his presidency.