For decades, Russian President Vladimir Putin's goal has been to undermine democratic nations, particularly those in NATO, and weaken their ability to thwart his imperialist ambitions. Under President Trump, he could not have been more effective.

The most powerful leader in the world today is not the president of the United States, as has been true since the close of World War II. Rather, due to Trump's actions, it is the president of the Russian Federation. Putin is winning, and he must be stopped.

Internationally, Putin is winning because Trump has trashed America’s goodwill. He has offended practically every other nation in the world with his obsession with raising tariffs. Our closest allies — Canada and the United Kingdom — view the U.S. as an unreliable trade partner and are seeking alternative trade outlets. The rapprochement that successive presidents attempted with China has dissolved as Trump has declared economic war and driven China closer to Russia, a development Putin watches with glee.

Trump has damaged NATO. NATO countries are under increasing threat of attack

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