President Trump in an interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News Radio, March 13:

Kilmeade: You think Putin is helping [the Iranians]? Trump: I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine. Right? Kilmeade: And you are. Right? [Laughs] Trump: Yeah, we’re helping them also. And so, he says that. And China would say the same thing. You know? It’s like, uh, hey, they do it and we do it in all fairness. They do it and we do it.

Kilmeade: You think Putin is helping [the Iranians]?

Trump: I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine. Right?

Kilmeade: And you are. Right? [Laughs]

Trump: Yeah, we’re helping them also. And so, he says that. And China would say the same thing. You know? It’s like, uh, hey, they do it and we do it in all fairness. They do it and we do it.

That is not exactly a forceful denunciation of Russian assistance to a country currently firing missiles and drones at the armed forces of the United States as well as civilians, nor was there any warning or message to the Russians to knock it off or face consequences.

The Wall Street Journal, this morning:

Russia has been expanding its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and improved drone technology to aid Tehran’s targeting of U.S. forces in the region, people familiar with the matter said. Russia is trying to keep its closest Middle Eastern partner in the fight against U.S. and Israeli military might and prolong a war that is benefiting Russia militarily and economically. The technology provided includes components of modified Shahed drones, which are meant to improve communication, navigation and targeting, the people said. Russia has also been drawing on its experience using drones in Ukraine, offering tactical guidance on how many drones should be used in operations and what altitudes they should strike from, said the people, who included a senior European intelligence officer. Russia has been providing Iran with the locations of U.S. military forces in the Middle East as well as those of its regional allies, The Wall Street Journal has reported. That cooperation has deepened in early days of the war, with Russia recently providing satellite imagery directly to Iran, said two of the people, the officer and a Middle Eastern diplomat.

Russia has been expanding its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and improved drone technology to aid Tehran’s targeting of U.S. forces in the region, people familiar with the matter said.

Russia is trying to keep its closest Middle Eastern partner in the fight against U.S. and Israeli military might and prolong a war that is benefiting Russia militarily and economically.

The technology provided includes components of modified Shahed drones, which are meant to improve communication, navigation and targeting, the people said. Russia has also been drawing on its experience using drones in Ukraine, offering tactical guidance on how many drones should be used in operations and what altitudes they should strike from, said the people, who included a senior European intelligence officer.

Russia has been providing Iran with the locations of U.S. military forces in the Middle East as well as those of its regional allies, The Wall Street Journal has reported. That cooperation has deepened in early days of the war, with Russia recently providing satellite imagery directly to Iran, said two of the people, the officer and a Middle Eastern diplomat.

How much is President Trump willing to forgive Putin? He’s helping the Iranians attempt to kill Americans, and Trump doesn’t seem all that bothered by it at all. It’s not even worth some harsh words. We’ve seen the president rage on Truth Social about Fed Chair Jerome Powell, actor and director Rob Reiner, or New York Times journalists who he keeps giving exclusive interviews. But no matter what Putin does, Trump never seems to get all that angry about him.

You would think the philosophy of “America First” would require taking our own side in an ongoing war. The president is angrier at NATO allies for not wanting to send their navies to do escort duty in the Persian Gulf than he is at Putin for helping the Iranians target their missiles.

© National Review