Let’s Dive In
One of the favorite smears the left clings to is the idea that Donald Trump somehow harbors sympathies for communism, or that his pragmatism toward Russia amounts to being “pro-Putin.” It’s a lazy accusation that deliberately misunderstands geopolitics and deliberately ignores history.
Trump isn’t pro-communist. In fact, he has been one of the loudest voices condemning socialism and its destructive effects. But he also recognizes a fundamental reality: Russia is not simply another European state—it’s a nuclear superpower.
The 1987 Soviet Trip: Debunking Liberal LiesRealism vs. Recklessness
Critics have resurrected Donald Trump’s 1987 visit to the Soviet Union, spinning tales that he was secretly recruited by the KGB or groomed as a Russian asset. These claims are unsubstantiated and politically motivated.
- Trump did visit Moscow in July 1987 as a real estate developer considering a hotel project, driven by business—not ideology. His account appears in The Art of the Deal, where he recalls discussing building a luxury hotel across from the Kremlin with Soviet officials.
- Claims that the trip was orchestrated by the KGB or that Trump was compromised stem largely from speculative interpretations—including statements by former KGB officers like Alnur Mussayev—without any concrete evidence.
- Intelligence commentary and retrospective analysis suggest these rumors rely on conjecture rather than fact, with no corroborated documentation indicating Trump ever collaborated with Soviet intelligence.
The attempt to recast his business trip as espionage is a politically motivated distort, meant to delegitimize his pragmatic understanding of international power dynamics.Foreign policy is not about wishful thinking; it’s about power and survival. Trump, unlike many establishment figures, approaches Russia with realism. Russia’s nuclear arsenal is the largest in the world (Kristensen & Korda, 2023). Pretending this doesn’t matter—or worse, dismissing it in favor of moral posturing—risks global catastrophe.
Critics who paint Trump as “soft on Russia” conveniently forget that his administration armed Ukraine with lethal aid after years of Obama sending only blankets and MREs (Mehta, 2017). They ignore that Trump expanded NATO funding and pressured allies to pay their fair share. They forget his sanctions on Russian energy projects. None of this looks like the playbook of a “pro-communist.”
Why the Narrative Fails
The left’s portrayal hinges on conflating diplomacy with loyalty. When Trump states that America should not be dragged into endless wars with nuclear-armed adversaries, critics cry “appeasement.” But this ignores the longstanding U.S. tradition of recognizing spheres of influence.
During the Cold War, the Monroe Doctrine—originally declared in 1823—was invoked repeatedly to justify U.S. resistance to Soviet encroachment in the Western Hemisphere (Perkins, 2017). Trump’s position is a mirror of that logic: Russia views Ukraine as part of its vital strategic buffer, much as America views Cuba or Venezuela. Recognizing this doesn’t mean endorsing it—it means understanding the danger of ignoring it.
Realism vs. Recklessness
Foreign policy is not about wishful thinking; it’s about power and survival. Trump, unlike many establishment figures, approaches Russia with realism. Russia’s nuclear arsenal is the largest in the world (Kristensen & Korda, 2023). Pretending this doesn’t matter—or worse, dismissing it in favor of moral posturing—risks global catastrophe.
Critics who paint Trump as “soft on Russia” conveniently forget that his administration armed Ukraine with lethal aid after years of Obama sending only blankets and MREs (Mehta, 2017). They ignore that Trump expanded NATO funding and pressured allies to pay their fair share. They forget his sanctions on Russian energy projects. None of this looks like the playbook of a “pro-communist."
The Left's Projection
Labeling Trump as pro-communist is more about projection than reality. It is the left, not Trump, that has increasingly embraced socialist and Marxist rhetoric domestically. While Democratic politicians flirt with policies that centralize power and expand government dependency, Trump’s record is the opposite: deregulation, tax cuts, and economic growth before COVID derailed the momentum.
Why This Matters
It matters because sloppy narratives fuel sloppy policy. If America’s leaders continue to demonize anyone who advocates for strategic realism as a “traitor” or “communist,” then we guarantee more reckless entanglements. Trump’s foreign policy doctrine is not about ideology—it’s about prioritizing American survival.
References
Kristensen, H. M., & Korda, M. (2023). Status of World Nuclear Forces. Federation of American Scientists.
https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/
Mehta, A. (2017, December 22). Trump administration approves lethal arms sale to Ukraine. Defense News.
https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2017/12/22/trump-administration-approves-lethal-arms-sale-to-ukraine/
Perkins, D. (2017). The Monroe Doctrine and United States foreign policy in the 20th century. Journal of American History, 104(2), 405–418.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this post are opinions of the author for educational and commentary purposes only. They are not statements of fact about any individual or organization, and should not be construed as legal, medical, or financial advice. References to public figures and institutions are based on publicly available sources cited in the article. Any resemblance beyond these references is coincidental.
