Friend,

About ten days ago, President Zelenskyy was berated by President Trump and Vice President Vance in the Oval Office. The incident was a global embarrassment, and it served as the latest confirmation that the United States now stands firmly in the camp of Vladimir Putin. Only a few days prior, the US essentially made it official by abandoning our European allies at the United Nations and refusing to blame Russia for the war in Ukraine.

As I watched the video of the jaw-dropping Oval Office exchange, I couldn’t help but notice the bust of Winston Churchill perched over President Trump’s shoulder. The irony is almost too much to bear.

Churchill, of course, repeatedly visited the White House to coordinate American support in the fight against Adolph Hitler during World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Churchill stayed at the White House for three weeks to coordinate the war effort with President Roosevelt.

And though Zelenskyy apparently offended Trump and the right-wing media by not wearing a suit, Churchill famously wore his air raid attire during a 1942 visit to the White House.

The Churchill bust recalls a time when America stood by our allies and stood up to violent dictators. In fact, I can remember when Zelenskyy was hailed on Fox News by Republican members of Congress as “the Churchill of our time.”

But today, the U.S. has found itself on the wrong side of the global struggle for democracy. And stunningly, almost all of my Republican colleagues are silent in the face of Trump’s unconscionable outburst. Putin couldn’t be more pleased.

I’ve met with Zelenskyy and know that he never asked for this war with Russia. I’m thinking today of the many Ukrainian families who have lost their loved ones and now must endure watching the world’s greatest democracy turn its back on them.

– Jim