Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a longtime critic of President Trump, mentioned he thinks hundreds of thousands of People are ashamed of the president “for the first time” over his efforts to strike a cope with Ukraine to realize entry to its mineral wealth.
“I think millions and millions and millions of Americans watching this not only disagree with the president, but — maybe for the first time — are just downright ashamed of the president because we have betrayed an ally,” Schiff informed CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in an interview Wednesday night.
“We’ve not only betrayed an ally, but we’ve betrayed our principles,” he continued. “Are we to be nothing except transactional now? We have no commitment to democracy, no commitment to our allies. It’s all going to be about the money. That seems to be Donald Trump’s orientation, but what a sad chapter of our history.”
The sharp criticism comes forward of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s anticipated go to Friday to the White Home, when Trump mentioned they may finalize a long-sought minerals deal between the 2 international locations.
At a information convention Wednesday, Zelensky mentioned a framework to an financial deal had been reached however that the deal didn’t embody any safety ensures, which Zelensky has mentioned is essential.
The deal would give the U.S. entry to Ukraine’s uncommon earth minerals, which Trump has framed as a means for Ukraine to repay the U.S. for the help it has already despatched throughout the Biden administration. However Zelensky has mentioned he first must know the place the U.S. stands on continued navy assist — a subject he expects to debate throughout his go to.
Trump, in asserting the Ukraine assembly, mentioned on Wednesday, “I’m not going to make security guarantees beyond very much,” including, “We’re going to have Europe do that.”
Schiff in his interview blasted Trump for the remark.
“This is an effort to pressure Zelensky into giving up something for nothing,” Schiff said. “And I have to say, this — on top of the resolution at the United Nations where the United States sided with Russia, betrayed Ukraine — is one of the most shameful incidents in modern history.”
