Did Russia Invade Ukraine? Is Putin a Dictator? We Asked Every Republican Member of Congress

 

In just three weeks, President Donald Trump has upended long-standing U.S. foreign policy, aligning with Russia over Ukraine and NATO. He initiated diplomatic talks with Russian officials while excluding Kyiv, falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war, and labeled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator." However, in a press conference on Monday, Trump refused to use the same term for Vladimir Putin, stating, "I don’t use those words lightly."

Most Republicans previously condemned Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and supported military aid. Yet, with Trump back in the White House, many have fallen silent. Are any GOP lawmakers willing to state the truth plainly?

I contacted all 271 Republican members of Congress, asking two straightforward questions: Did Russia invade Ukraine? Is Putin a dictator? So far, I have received 19 responses.

Some members were unequivocal. Senator Susan Collins’ spokesperson responded, “Yes and yes.” Representative Jeff Hurd’s office stated, “Vladimir Putin is undisputedly an enemy of America and a dictator.”

Others dodged the questions, sending previous statements or TV interviews instead of a clear “yes” or “no.” Speaker Mike Johnson’s spokesperson merely highlighted Trump’s dealmaking abilities. Senator Ted Cruz’s office referenced a ChatGPT interaction confirming his past acknowledgment of Russia’s invasion and Putin’s dictatorship but stopped short of a direct answer.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Representative Brian Mast, took a more definitive stance, posting: “ON THE RECORD: Russia invaded Ukraine & Putin is a dictator. But that doesn’t mean our European allies shouldn’t match Russian military spending & recruitment.” However, when asked if this reflected Mast’s personal view, no further response was given.

Some lawmakers outright refused to answer. Representative Darrell Issa’s communications director dismissed the questions as “gotcha” journalism. In reality, it is crucial for the public to understand where elected officials stand on adversarial foreign powers, particularly when national security is at stake.

Below is the full list of responses from Republican lawmakers, updated regularly with new information.

Lawmakers Who Answered the Questions

• Representative Don Bacon (NE): “Putin started this war. Putin committed war crimes. Putin is a dictator.”
• Representative Michael Baumgartner (WA): “Russia and Vladimir Putin were the aggressors.”
• Senator Susan Collins (ME): “Yes and yes.”
• Senator John Curtis (UT): “Ukraine was invaded by a dictator.”
• Representative Julie Fedorchak (ND): “Yes, Putin and Russia invaded Ukraine, and yes, he is a dictator.”
• Representative Jeff Hurd (CO): “Russia’s invasion was an unprovoked act of war. Putin is a dictator.”
• Representative Young Kim (CA): “Yes to both.”
• Representative Brian Mast (FL): Linked to a Foreign Affairs Committee post affirming both statements.
• Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK): “Yes, she believes Putin is a dictator.”
• Representative Austin Scott (GA): “Russia invaded Ukraine, and Putin is a dictator.”
• Senator Todd Young (IN): “Yes and yes.”

Lawmakers Who Responded but Did Not Directly Answer

• Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX): Linked to an interview about dictators’ threats to global order.
• Representative Warren Davidson (OH): Declined to comment.
• Senator Joni Ernst (IA): Condemned Putin’s war but did not answer directly.
• Representative French Hill (AR): Acknowledged Putin started the war but did not call him a dictator.
• Representative Darrell Issa (CA): Called the questions “gotcha” journalism.
• Speaker Mike Johnson (LA): Focused on Trump’s peace efforts without addressing the questions.
• Senator Tommy Tuberville (AL): Stated Trump “wants to get the war over with” without addressing Putin’s status.

As the debate over U.S. foreign policy continues, the American public deserves clarity on where their representatives stand regarding Russia, Ukraine, and global security.