Michael McFaul

Glad to be here, Rachel.

Glad to be here, Rachel.

Tragically, I see it that way. And you just presented a lot of evidence to support that hypothesis before the commercial break. And I just, this is such a sad day for me personally, as somebody who cares about democracy and vice autocracies. And I know American history, we haven't been perfect.

Tragically, I see it that way. And you just presented a lot of evidence to support that hypothesis before the commercial break. And I just, this is such a sad day for me personally, as somebody who cares about democracy and vice autocracies. And I know American history, we haven't been perfect.

We haven't always been on the side of the Democrats, but we have a long standing tradition of standing up to autocrats. Think about it. All of our enemies throughout all of our history have been dictatorships. Our most enduring allies, our strongest allies have always been democracies. And today, our president, wants to switch sides in the struggle between autocrats and Democrats.

We haven't always been on the side of the Democrats, but we have a long standing tradition of standing up to autocrats. Think about it. All of our enemies throughout all of our history have been dictatorships. Our most enduring allies, our strongest allies have always been democracies. And today, our president, wants to switch sides in the struggle between autocrats and Democrats.

He doesn't want to be the leader of the free world. He wants to join the autocratic club. And I just think it's sad on a kind of ethical and moral level. But I also think this does not serve American national security interests. If he goes down this path, we will be isolated from our allies in Europe, from our allies in Asia. The rest of the world will hedge their bets and we will be alone.

He doesn't want to be the leader of the free world. He wants to join the autocratic club. And I just think it's sad on a kind of ethical and moral level. But I also think this does not serve American national security interests. If he goes down this path, we will be isolated from our allies in Europe, from our allies in Asia. The rest of the world will hedge their bets and we will be alone.

Well, this was supposed to be a good day. You know, they negotiated very hard, both sides, on this minerals deal. I'm not a big fan of it, but both sides thought it was in their interest. They thought that getting a direct meeting with the president was what Zelensky needed, because that's what everybody says. You got to do business with President Trump directly.

Well, this was supposed to be a good day. You know, they negotiated very hard, both sides, on this minerals deal. I'm not a big fan of it, but both sides thought it was in their interest. They thought that getting a direct meeting with the president was what Zelensky needed, because that's what everybody says. You got to do business with President Trump directly.

And so it was their idea to fly to Washington to have this meeting and And they're just in shock. The whole country is in shock. By the way, the whole country is rallying to President Zelensky's support, just like the rest of Europe is as well. But they did not expect this. And I got to tell you, honestly, this is my opinion, not theirs.

And so it was their idea to fly to Washington to have this meeting and And they're just in shock. The whole country is in shock. By the way, the whole country is rallying to President Zelensky's support, just like the rest of Europe is as well. But they did not expect this. And I got to tell you, honestly, this is my opinion, not theirs.

But we keep talking about Trump wants to do a deal to end the war. I'm not so sure that's true. I think he wants to do a deal with Putin. That's the real play, as you were just describing. And the Ukraine thing is kind of a sideshow. And if it works out, it works out.

But we keep talking about Trump wants to do a deal to end the war. I'm not so sure that's true. I think he wants to do a deal with Putin. That's the real play, as you were just describing. And the Ukraine thing is kind of a sideshow. And if it works out, it works out.

If it doesn't, Trump doesn't really care because there's no other way to explain all of the concessions that he has already given to Vladimir Putin, even before any negotiation. So that suggests to me that, in fact, he actually is not trying to negotiate a deal. He's trying to nurture a relationship with Vladimir Putin. And as you said, I hope the American people understand this is wrong.

If it doesn't, Trump doesn't really care because there's no other way to explain all of the concessions that he has already given to Vladimir Putin, even before any negotiation. So that suggests to me that, in fact, he actually is not trying to negotiate a deal. He's trying to nurture a relationship with Vladimir Putin. And as you said, I hope the American people understand this is wrong.

It's not in our national interest. And I think Trump is way out ahead of the people as you're polling that you just showed, just described.

It's not in our national interest. And I think Trump is way out ahead of the people as you're polling that you just showed, just described.

Well, I want to keep hope alive. President Trump and his team don't seem to want to be part of the free world. But I'm an American, too. I want to be part of the free world. I hope there are other Americans who believe the same as me. And I don't want them to turn this this way because I don't believe it serves America's interests.

Well, I want to keep hope alive. President Trump and his team don't seem to want to be part of the free world. But I'm an American, too. I want to be part of the free world. I hope there are other Americans who believe the same as me. And I don't want them to turn this this way because I don't believe it serves America's interests.