Former Ukraine Ambassador Says Trump Policies Escalated War After Promising Day One End
"President Trump said he would end the war on day one. That has not happened. It's actually escalated and gotten worse because we have withdrawn our support."
About this episode
Host Ken Harbaugh of the MeidasTouch Network interviews Bridget Brink, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine who resigned in protest against Trump administration policies and is now running for Congress in Michigan. Brink directly challenges Trump's claim of ending the Ukraine war on day one, stating the conflict has actually escalated and gotten worse due to withdrawn American support. She reports that recent massive Russian attacks on Kyiv have killed at least 20 people including children, bringing the total child death toll since 2022 to over 700, with another 20,000 children abducted to Russia. Brink warns that Putin prevailing in Ukraine would pose enormous economic and security dangers to the United States and NATO allies. The interview addresses attack ads funded by over $2 million in dark money from Republican-backed super PACs using deceptive progressive-sounding names to smear her 28-year diplomatic career. Brink was the first woman to lead a U.S. embassy in a war zone and emphasizes she is the only candidate who actually stood up to Trump by resigning and speaking out. She outlines her congressional priorities including tackling skyrocketing costs caused by Trump's tariffs and policies, expanding healthcare access through a public option as a breast cancer survivor who understands the system's failures, and fighting corruption through a Restore and Reform Agenda. Brink argues American democracy's best days are ahead despite current threats, invoking her roots as granddaughter of a Lansing autoworker and daughter of a union teacher to illustrate the American dream she believes is slipping out of reach for too many families due to current Republican policies.
Key takeaways
- Former Ukraine Ambassador Bridget Brink states Trump's war escalated after he promised to end it on day one due to withdrawn U.S. support for Ukraine.
- Recent Russian attacks on Kyiv killed at least 20 including children, with 700 total child deaths since 2022 and 20,000 children abducted to Russia.
- Over $2 million in Republican dark money is flooding Brink's Michigan congressional race through deceptively-named progressive super PACs attacking her diplomatic record.
- Brink was the first woman to lead a U.S. embassy in a war zone and resigned from State Department in protest of Trump policies.
- She warns that Russian victory in Ukraine would create enormous economic and security threats to the United States and European allies.
- Brink's top congressional priorities include reversing Trump's tariff-driven cost increases, expanding healthcare through a public option, and anti-corruption reforms.
- She argues American democracy faces unprecedented threats including a muzzled press, politicized justice system, and Trump personally profiting $2 billion in office.