Trump spends time golfing with grandkids at Mar-a-Lago after landslide election victory
FOX NewsNov 09
Trump on Russia-Ukraine War: 'It's Gotta Stop'
Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump speaks at the America First Policy Institute Gala held at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 14, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. Image copyright: Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Addressing the nearly three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war in his first major speech since winning the election on Nov. 5, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump told an audience in Palm Beach, Florida, that "It's gotta stop."
The black-tie gala at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening, held alongside the America First Policy Institute, included lighter moments — including a quip about the recurring presence of Elon Musk. "You know, he likes this place. I can't get him out of here," Trump said.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Despite all the hyperbole about how bad Trump would be for Ukraine, if he does somehow manage to pull off a peace deal — which he'll not get the credit for — he will have settled a draining, nearly three-year conflict that has no shortages in the amount of soldiers and civilians killed on both sides. It may not be the best deal for Ukraine, but it's the reality it has to accept after being lied to by Democrats with slogans like "as long as it takes."
Democratic narrative
In the election campaign, Trump constantly bragged that he would resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the first day of his presidency. When he assumes power on Jan. 20, while he's packing his prospective cabinet with MAGA loyalists and surrounding himself with radicals who parrot Russian talking points, he'll support a bad deal for Ukraine, one that includes Ukraine ceding its territory and rewarding Putin's aggression.