Trump Says US Should Spend 'Less Time Worrying About Putin,' Calls Former Advisor an 'Ineffective Loser'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again stirred headlines, this time by taking aim at his former national security advisor, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, and suggesting the U.S. should shift its focus away from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remarks, made Sunday on Truth Social, come amid ongoing tensions surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Trump didn't hold back in his social media tirade, calling McMaster a "weak and totally ineffective loser." The jab followed McMaster's public criticism of Trump for what he described as "coddling Putin" while putting undue pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. If McMaster was hoping for a measured response, well, he clearly hasn’t been paying attention to Trump’s playbook.

Adding to the controversy, Trump doubled down with a follow-up post: "We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country - So that we don’t end up like Europe!" Subtle as a brick through a window, as usual.

The backdrop to this exchange involves a recent meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Zelenskyy at the Oval Office. The gathering reportedly turned tense when Zelenskyy requested security guarantees for Ukraine as the war with Russia drags on. Trump, along with Vance, responded by heavily criticizing Zelenskyy, eventually cutting the meeting short. Russia, unsurprisingly, wasted no time reveling in the spectacle, with Russian leaders and state media expressing their delight over the diplomatic drama.

McMaster, speaking on X (formerly Twitter), expressed dismay at Trump's handling of the situation, saying, "It is impossible to understand why President Trump and Vice President Vance seem determined to put more pressure on President Zelensky while they seem to be coddling Putin - the person who inflicted this terrible war in Ukraine."

Zelenskyy, however, didn’t stand alone. Several European leaders rallied behind the Ukrainian president, offering their support after his clash with Trump and Vance. Zelenskyy took to social media to thank these allies for having his back during yet another challenging moment in his presidency.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, this latest spat highlights the ongoing political divisions over how the U.S. should approach the crisis. And while Trump's fiery rhetoric might fire up his base, it’s safe to say his critics aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.