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Michael McFaul

@McFaul • 888,346 subscribers

Professor of Political Science, Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014.

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Russia isn't the reason Trump wants Greenland.

Russia isn't the reason Trump wants Greenland.

42,521 Aufrufe

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Let's be clear: Ukraine did not start this war. Russia did. What American national interest is served by helping an imperial dictator at the expense of a democracy fighting for its survival?

Let's be clear: Ukraine did not start this war. Russia did. What American national interest is served by helping an imperial dictator at the expense of a democracy fighting for its survival?

40,477 Aufrufe • vor 4 Tagen

Appeasement does not work with Putin.

Appeasement does not work with Putin.

24,496 Aufrufe • vor 3 Tagen

Putin believes Western leaders can be bought off. That everyone has a price. His strategy with Trump? Promise lucrative business deals once Ukraine is “out of the way” to secure the concessions he wants I hope that strategy won't succeed. I fear it might. Maybe it already is?

Putin believes Western leaders can be bought off. That everyone has a price. His strategy with Trump? Promise lucrative business deals once Ukraine is “out of the way” to secure the concessions he wants I hope that strategy won't succeed. I fear it might. Maybe it already is?

19,408 Aufrufe • vor 2 Tagen

One of the worst weeks for U.S.–Ukraine relations in recent memory. I'm outraged by the Trump administration's decisions and their potential consequences for Ukrainian lives. America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships.

One of the worst weeks for U.S.–Ukraine relations in recent memory. I'm outraged by the Trump administration's decisions and their potential consequences for Ukrainian lives. America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships.

37,757 Aufrufe • vor 8 Tagen

Trump has not helped end the war in Ukraine. He has prolonged it. In doing so, he has sided with autocratic Russia and against democratic Ukraine. That pivot has further undermined America’s reputation as the 'leader of the free world'.

Trump has not helped end the war in Ukraine. He has prolonged it. In doing so, he has sided with autocratic Russia and against democratic Ukraine. That pivot has further undermined America’s reputation as the 'leader of the free world'.

51,915 Aufrufe • vor 13 Tagen

Trump’s comments last night about “Obama’s Iran deal” were simply wrong. It wasn’t perfect, but it capped uranium enrichment at 3.67%. Since Trump scrapped it, Iran has enriched to 60%—much closer to weapons-grade. And that stockpile still hasn’t been eliminated.

Trump’s comments last night about “Obama’s Iran deal” were simply wrong. It wasn’t perfect, but it capped uranium enrichment at 3.67%. Since Trump scrapped it, Iran has enriched to 60%—much closer to weapons-grade. And that stockpile still hasn’t been eliminated.

683,260 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Trump’s decision to buy billions of dollars of Russian diesel is a gift to Putin. It won’t solve America’s high gas prices, but it will put more money in Putin’s pockets to fund his war against Ukraine. Why does Trump keep siding with dictators instead of democracies?

Trump’s decision to buy billions of dollars of Russian diesel is a gift to Putin. It won’t solve America’s high gas prices, but it will put more money in Putin’s pockets to fund his war against Ukraine. Why does Trump keep siding with dictators instead of democracies?

50,679 Aufrufe • vor 14 Tagen

I’ve been in the room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same. Clip from this weekend's talk with Alex Vindman 🇺🇸 at the 2025 Texas Tribune Festival.

I’ve been in the room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same. Clip from this weekend's talk with Alex Vindman 🇺🇸 at the 2025 Texas Tribune Festival.

1,012,927 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten

I’m struck by how often Trump referred to Xi as his “friend” and a “great leader.” Xi Jinping, chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, is a dictator. He also offered no such reciprocal praise for Trump. That asymmetry makes Trump appear in a visibly weaker position.

I’m struck by how often Trump referred to Xi as his “friend” and a “great leader.” Xi Jinping, chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, is a dictator. He also offered no such reciprocal praise for Trump. That asymmetry makes Trump appear in a visibly weaker position.

412,994 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

To our friends around the world: Trump is not America, and America is not Trump.

To our friends around the world: Trump is not America, and America is not Trump.

239,504 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

I believe America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships. Is that really such a controversial position?

I believe America should stand with democracies, not dictatorships. Is that really such a controversial position?

25,470 Aufrufe • vor 11 Tagen

We've become remarkably desensitized to Trump's rhetoric. Declaring the Iran ceasefire "over," threatening to end all trade with Spain, calling Japan an "Islamic Republic"—a few years ago, each would have been a major story. Now they barely register. Why?

We've become remarkably desensitized to Trump's rhetoric. Declaring the Iran ceasefire "over," threatening to end all trade with Spain, calling Japan an "Islamic Republic"—a few years ago, each would have been a major story. Now they barely register. Why?

162,774 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

If economic sanctions can achieve our objectives now, why couldn't we have used them to avoid going to war in the first place?

If economic sanctions can achieve our objectives now, why couldn't we have used them to avoid going to war in the first place?

83,041 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

53% of registered U.S. voters recently polled by YouGov selected 'corrupt' when asked which words they’d use to describe Trump. Corruption can take time to uncover, and even longer to register with the public. But I think Americans are starting to take note

53% of registered U.S. voters recently polled by YouGov selected 'corrupt' when asked which words they’d use to describe Trump. Corruption can take time to uncover, and even longer to register with the public. But I think Americans are starting to take note

27,934 Aufrufe • vor 19 Tagen

The Russian army is exhausted too. Russia is taking far higher casualties than Ukraine, and after 3.5 years has barely moved the front line. The idea that Russia is “winning” is simply not supported by the evidence. As I told DW News

The Russian army is exhausted too. Russia is taking far higher casualties than Ukraine, and after 3.5 years has barely moved the front line. The idea that Russia is “winning” is simply not supported by the evidence. As I told DW News

351,000 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten

Right now, the conversation isn’t about nuclear programs, or free and fair elections in Iran. It's about reopening a body of water that was open before this war started. Chalk that up as a win for Tehran.

Right now, the conversation isn’t about nuclear programs, or free and fair elections in Iran. It's about reopening a body of water that was open before this war started. Chalk that up as a win for Tehran.

213,051 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

From threatening to invade Greenland to calling Canada "the 51st state" and slapping tariffs on everyone—this isn't "America First," it’s a massive self-inflicted wound. Now Trump wants to abandon NATO. That would be an all-time own goal.

From threatening to invade Greenland to calling Canada "the 51st state" and slapping tariffs on everyone—this isn't "America First," it’s a massive self-inflicted wound. Now Trump wants to abandon NATO. That would be an all-time own goal.

215,512 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Once in power, Putin cut taxes for wealthy elites, consolidated media & sought to shape the electoral process. Sound familiar? Some parallels are hard to ignore. The difference? The US has strong checks, an active civil society & deep democratic traditions. That gives me hope.

Once in power, Putin cut taxes for wealthy elites, consolidated media & sought to shape the electoral process. Sound familiar? Some parallels are hard to ignore. The difference? The US has strong checks, an active civil society & deep democratic traditions. That gives me hope.

182,626 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Trump tore up the Iran nuclear deal. After he did, Iran began rebuilding its nuclear capacity. Trump then took us to war with Iran to eliminate its nuclear program. He has failed to do that.

Trump tore up the Iran nuclear deal. After he did, Iran began rebuilding its nuclear capacity. Trump then took us to war with Iran to eliminate its nuclear program. He has failed to do that.

84,184 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

The U.S. is pulling out of yet another international institution—this time, an anti-corruption body. America does not become stronger by isolating itself.

The U.S. is pulling out of yet another international institution—this time, an anti-corruption body. America does not become stronger by isolating itself.

27,906 Aufrufe • vor 23 Tagen