WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican from South Carolina) on Friday said that calling for Russians assassinating President Vladimir Putin would be the fastest way to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Graham stated that he hopes that someone in Russia will see the importance of Putin’s “destroying Russia” and that he must be removed by all means.
After he had made the suggestion in a Fox News interview on Thursday night, and again on Twitter, he made the comment.
“Is there a Brutus living in Russia?” Are there any more successful Colonel Stauffenbergs in the Russian military? Graham tweeted. He was referring to Julius Caesar’s assassin, and the German officer who attempted to kill Hitler. “Russians must take out this guy. This is the only way to end this. Your country and the entire world would benefit greatly from your actions.
In a second tweet, he said that “the only people who can fix it are the Russian people.” It’s easy to say, but difficult to do. If you don’t want to live in poverty for the rest your life, you must not be alone in it.
Russian officials attacked Graham’s remarks, with Kremlin press Secretary Dmitry Peskov saying to reporters that there was a “hysterical escalation in Russophobia” because of the tension created by the atmosphere. Many people lose their minds these days.
Anatoly Antonov (Russian ambassador to the U.S.), stated on Facebook that Graham’s statements were “unacceptable” and “outlandish”. He also said that the U.S. has a high level of Russophobia, and hatred of Russia.
“It is difficult to believe that Senator of a country which promotes its moral values and acts as a ‘guiding light’ for all mankind could call for terrorism to achieve Washington’s international goals,” he said, demanding an official explanation.
Graham replied to the ambassador on Friday, saying that he supports a war criminal who commits war crimes before the world.
Backlash also came from conservative members within his party.
tweeted Senator Ted Cruz, R.Texas. Massive economic sanctions, BOYCOTT Russian oil and gas; and military assistance to the Ukrainians in order to defend themselves. We shouldn’t be calling for assassination or retaliation against heads of states.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweetedthat the world needed leaders with “calm minds and steady wisdom.” Not blood thirsty, warmongering politicians who want to tweet tough and demand assassinations.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tweeted: “When has Sen. Graham encouraged regime change ever ended badly?”
