Peter Hartcher, political and international editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, has published a detailed column arguing that US President Donald Trump is not only favouring Russian President Vladimir Putin but is increasingly mirroring his authoritarian traits.
Hartcher points to Trump's decision ten days ago to not only refuse to impose new sanctions on Russian oil that Congress had voted for, but to reverse pre-existing sanctions imposed four years earlier. Trump claimed the move would cut diesel prices in America. Hartcher notes that the New York Harbour wholesale spot price for diesel rose from $US4.91 to $US5.11 per gallon in the four days following the announcement.
Hartcher also cites a Financial Times report that Trump envoys are pressing European governments to hand over to Washington roughly $US300 billion in frozen Russian assets, to use as leverage for peace negotiations. Germany has ruled out the idea, according to the report.
The column highlights Trump's history of praising Putin, including calling the full-scale invasion of Ukraine 'genius', and his refusal to impose sanctions despite congressional pressure. Hartcher argues Trump's timing is quixotic, noting that with US midterm elections two weeks away, he is 'embracing a dictator viewed unfavourably by 81 per cent of his own 2024 voters', citing a January YouGov poll.
Peter Tesch, a former Australian ambassador to Moscow, is quoted describing Trump's attitude toward Putin as 'enthralled'. Hartcher writes: 'Putin turns Trump the bully into this cowed, servile individual. You see it time and time again.'
Hartcher lists 12 similarities between the two leaders: both initially came to power through democratic means; both appeal to nostalgia for past greatness; both manage electoral systems to avoid losing; both have expanded executive power over courts and legislatures; both use security forces to repress dissent; both foster competitive oligarchic circles; both have pursued territorial ambitions (Trump over Greenland, Canada, Cuba and Venezuela); both launched poorly planned wars they are unwilling to quit; both concocted pretexts for invasions; both are inflicting economic pain on their own citizens; both use power vindictively against critics; and both presidencies have been marked by corruption.
Hartcher notes that Trump has hung a photo of himself with Putin in the White House, above a photo of himself with a granddaughter, and that Putin's hold on him 'is almost mystical'.
The opinion piece comes as US midterm elections approach, with control of Congress at stake. An Axios report cited in the column says Trump's embrace of Putin is hurting Republican candidates.