MAGA is quiet as Trump, Vance criticize Putin

President Trump and Vice President Vance are now more critical of Putin, a shift from their previous focus on Zelensky. The MAGA base, however, remains skeptical of Ukraine, despite trusting Trump's negotiation efforts. While not contradicting Trump, the base isn't echoing his criticism of Putin, maintaining their distrust of Kyiv. Podcaster Jack Posobiec notes MAGA's opposition to expanding the war and extra payments to Ukraine. Trump's recent statements suggest Putin might not want to end the war, hinting at alternative measures like sanctions. Vance criticized Russia for demanding too much Ukrainian territory in peace negotiations. This shift follows a pattern of alternating praise and tough talk, a common Trump negotiation tactic. The MAGA base's animosity toward Zelensky stems from perceptions of arrogance and authoritarianism. Despite Trump's alignment with Zelensky, Ukraine remains distanced by MAGA adherents. Sean Spicer notes that while Russia has "overplayed its hand," Ukraine remains a concern for the MAGA base.