GOP Candidates Criticize Russian Invasion but Refuse to Denounce Trump for Calling Putin a “Genius”

Denver, CO – A majority of Colorado’s GOP Senate candidates criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine but they are too afraid to call out Donald Trump for sympathizing with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Trump applauded Putin and called him a “genius,” and Trump doubled down on his stance at CPAC. Far-right extremist Joe Oltmann, who endorsed Hanks, said he’ll “stand on the side of Russia.”

Ron Hanks, Gino Campana, Joe O’Dea, and Eli Bremer have been vying for Trump’s approval for months by touting endorsements from officials who worked within the Trump admin or by spreading the Big Lie. Now that Trump is choosing to praise Putin while Russia invades Ukraine, the candidates are noticeably quiet on Trump and choose to blame President Biden who rallied allies to place strong sanctions on Russia and called Putin an aggressor who violated international law.

If candidates cower and continue to chase Trump’s approval without denouncing his admiration of Putin, Coloradans will write them off as another sellout Republican politician that will do anything Trump says instead of fighting for Coloradans. Will they stand up to Trump for calling Putin a “genius”? NRSC Chairman Rick Scott dodged a question if Trump should condemn Putin.