In a speech to Republican donors in New Orleans, Donald Trump suggested that in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. should put Chinese flags on F-22 jets and "bomb the s-t out of Russia."
"And then we say, China did it, we didn't do it, China did it, and then they start fighting with each other and we sit back and watch," Trump said in his speech, according to a recording obtained by The Washington Post.
However, Laurie Blank, a specialist on international law at Emory University's law school, said Trump's plan is "prohibited" by law and will only lead the U.S. into more conflict with Russia.
"This idea would bring the U.S. into the conflict (because it would be actually engaging in military operations against Russia) and be in violation of the rule prohibiting the use of the flags, emblems or insignia of neutral states or states not party to the conflict," Blank told The Post.
Trump again reiterated his claim that if he were still president, Russian President Vladimir Putin would never have invaded Ukraine.
"I knew Putin very well. He would not have done it. He would have never done it," the Republican business mogul said.
Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election to benefit Trump. The investigation into such interference resulted in the criminal convictions of Trump associates as well as extensive evidence that Trump attempted to obstruct justice.
As president, Trump deferred to Putin in public and met with him privately, without close advisors in Helsinki in July 2018.
Trump also withheld military aid to Ukraine in 2019 in an attempt to obtain dirt on President Joe Biden, resulting in the first of two impeachments.
"Nobody has ever been tougher on Russia than me," Trump said in New Orleans.
According to The Post, Trump also commended North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un for having "total control" of his country. The rest of the address, according to the article, was devoted to Trump's claim that his loss to Biden was due to electoral fraud.
Trump attacked two Republicans for rejecting the lie: Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, whom Trump referred to as "stupid and corrupt," and Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, who presided over the certification of electoral results following the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
"Several" people told The Post that Trump spoke too long and "sounded like he was rambling more in the last 30 minutes."
Under legal scrutiny for his business and political dealings, Trump appears ready to run again in 2024. In polls of the possible field, he retains the dominant presence.
Trump's remarks come after he was chastised for describing Putin's plan to invade Ukraine as "savvy" and "brilliant" in a radio interview with "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show."
"He used the word 'independent' and 'we're gonna go out and we're gonna go in and we're gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say that's pretty savvy," Trump said.
