Why Russians Admire Trump
It is often surprising for many to discover that President Trump is admired by many ordinary Russians. This admiration is surprising given the fact that Trump was quite tough and severe on Russia during his first admiration.
For example, Trump placed sanctions on a Russian state-owned weapons trading company, and on 7 Russian individuals, 12 companies, and 17 senior government officials. In 2017, he banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on all U.S. Government computers. He expelled 12 Russian intelligence officers from the Russian Mission to the United Nations in New York. He claimed that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections and so closed two Russian compounds and expelled 35 diplomats. Trump boosted funding for the European Deterrence Initiative, thus channeling billions to enhance U.S. troop readiness in Europe, all to deter Russia. Trump increased support for the Ukrainian army so it could fight Russia. And he forced Russia to comply with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. And in 2018, he killed about 300 Russians in Syria.
But they still love Trump in Russia. What can explain this love-affair?
Many Russians, especially those who lean to the right, see him as a kindred spirit who is anti-establishment. Never mind that during his stint in office was busy filling the swamp like there’s no tomorrow—just as he has done now, unabashedly appointing fellow-billionaires to his heart’s content.
There is also the perception among Russians that Trump is a patriot and a nationalist. Certainly, he declaims patriotic and nationalistic rhetoric, but his actions are difficult to peg as either. America First often falls by the wayside when there is Israel to defend, for example. However, America First also means configuring the world in such a way that America benefits, no matter the cost to the rest of the world. This can only be done by greater and deeper hegemony. This can be regarded as nationalist, but it cannot be patriotic—because the former demands dominance and strength, while the latter depends upon self-sacrifice and courage. Therefore, one can fairly ask if a nationalist can indeed even be a patriot, since the one contradicts the other.
There is also this expectation among Russians that somehow Trump will end wars and withdraw America from the many foreign entanglements that have nurtured so much chaos throughout the globe. While it is true that Trump may well end the war in Ukraine, it is difficult to see how he would engage with Iran and China, both of whom he sees as adversaries that must be brought to heel. How this will benefit Russia in any way is difficult to see. However, Russia may just be happy to be brought back into the West, after two long years of being in the doghouse. And Trump may well be able to deliver on that—this would certainly endear him to many in Russia who are weary of fighting in Ukraine.
As well, given Russia’s immediate socialist past, the anti-socialist rhetoric that Trump likes to employ greatly appeals to many Russians who have only negative memories of that past. In contrast, it is the Democrats who often come across as socialists, and therefore as the “bad guys.”
As well, Russian media largely favors Trump, because there is the belief that his presidency will be good for Russia. Here a distinction should be made in that some may not like Trump as a human being, they will like what he does for Russia—especially since most Russians do not want to live in opposition to the United States but want to have improved relationships. This something that Trump can bring about if he ends the war in Ukraine and lifts the many thousands of sanctions that are currently in place against Russia. Trump’s popularity will skyrocket in Russia, if he does these two things. Thus far, it seems that he just be able to deliver at least on Ukraine. But, as always in international relations, only time will tell.