In 1935, a young Jewish man – still 18 years old and with little more than the shirt on his back – sailed to the United States. He spoke almost no English. He knew virtually no one. But Adolf Hitler had risen to power in his home country of Germany, and he fled to escape persecution. 

That man was my father, Martin Blumenthal. 

A year before my father fled Germany, Hitler centralized power and made his own word the highest law. In 1938, European leaders signed the Munich Agreement in a failed act of appeasement that ultimately laid the groundwork for Hitler's full-scale invasion of Czechoslovakia and, later, Poland and France – plunging Europe into the Second World War. 

Having just returned from the 61st Munich Security Conference, this history is on my mind – as is my father – as we witness President Donald Trump betray our European allies in favor of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, all while likening himself to Napoleon and a "King."

While at the Munich Conference, I watched in disgust as our nation's Vice President, JD Vance, scolded allies who are standing up against far-right extremism and cozied up to Germany's far-right political party that has been likened to neo-Nazis. Following Vance's despicable speech, Donald Trump proceeded to blame Ukraine and its President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for the cruel and bloody assault that Vladimir Putin has waged on Ukraine.

These words from the sitting President and Vice President of the United States give moral cover to not just Putin as he pushes forward to swallow Ukraine (and the rest of Eastern Europe) but all totalitarian thugs who seek to steamroll over freedom and democracy as they push their extremist agendas.

Donald Trump's denigration of Ukraine – and embrace of Putin – puts all of Europe, and democracy itself, in danger. I can't help but wonder what my father would think, a man who left the only home he'd ever known as democracy collapsed around him. How worried he would be by U.S. leaders giving comfort, even encouragement, to extremist, racist, right-wing parties that embrace hatred. 

History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. Now, Republicans face their own personal Munich: Do they stay silent to appease Donald Trump or stop the malign march to catastrophic tragedy? 

After personally traveling to Ukraine six times since February 2022, my commitment is unwavering. I'll continue to stand with Ukraine, seeking strongly to rally Americans to see that Ukraine's fight is our fight. 

Sincerely,

Dick

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