Michael McFaul

@McFaul • 888,285 subscribers

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

Live Cam

Michael McFaul

Shorts

Russia isn't the reason Trump wants Greenland.

1/5 Are we in a new Cold War with China? Yes — and no. And understanding the similarities and differences matters. Here’s why 👇 (From my conversation with Walter Isaacson on Amanpour and Company)

I’m cautiously optimistic that our democratic institutions are stronger than Trump. But as I write in Autocrats vs. Democrats, this is the greatest test of American democracy in my lifetime — maybe since the Civil War. Out now:

In the Cold War, we all knew whose side we were on. Today, it's different. The struggle between autocrats and democrats is now just as much within states, as it is between them. More from my interview with The Last Word

Videos

Watch Anya Live

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.

Putin is losing this war. Tried to take all Ukraine—failed. Tried to overthrow Zelenskyy—failed. Tried to demilitarize Ukraine—failed. Tried to stop NATO expansion—failed. I honestly can't believe this war has not ended yet.

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.

In 2018, after the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, I learned Russia wanted to interrogate me (and others) in exchange for US investigators questioning 12 Russian intelligence officers over electoral interference in 2016. The White House took nearly a day to reject the proposal.

Once in power, Putin cut taxes for wealthy elites, consolidated media &amp; 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 &amp; deep democratic traditions. That gives me hope.

Putin’s war is a tragedy with no winners. Russia isn’t stronger, safer, or more prosperous for invading Ukraine. Its economy is deeply strained, emigration has accelerated, and its demographic crisis has intensified.

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.

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.

Autocracies are rising. To compete with China &amp; Russia in the 21st century, we need to return to the basics that underpinned Cold War success: strong democratic alliances, global institutions (which can and should be reformed), and renewed engagement and cooperation

Ukraine isn't subjugated. Its government still stands. Its military is stronger than before. NATO expanded with Finland &amp; Sweden joining. And Russia has paid an enormous price in casualties &amp; economic strain. After four years, Putin is further from his goals—not closer.

Trump helped turn the Strait of Hormuz into a global crisis—and now he’s looking to China to help bail us out. Think about how that makes us look to the rest of the world.

We’ve spent billions on the world’s largest navy, yet cheap Iranian drones can shut the Strait of Hormuz, and we have no answer. Ukraine has vast experience countering such drones, but Trump has arrogantly dismissed Zelensky’s offer of help. We need to catch up. Fast.

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

A lesson from Hungary? Election winner Peter Magyar hardly ever spoke about democracy and dictatorship. He focused instead on corruption and rising costs, tying people’s struggles to the decisions and actions of those in power. That’s what resonated with voters.

In Munich, I was embarrassed by America’s lack of support for Ukraine. Secretary Rubio did not even mention Putin’s invasion in his speech. I’m a patriotic American, I want to feel proud of my country again. We should be standing with democracy against tyranny

If President Trump ordered the annexation of Greenland, it would end NATO. He would be destroying the system that has reinforced American security for 80 years—and all for a vanity project, as I told Katie Couric

So we’re telling Ukraine to accept limits on its sovereignty, cede territory &amp; weaken its military. Whose interests does that serve? Not Ukraine’s, America’s or those of our democratic allies. Undermining Ukraine &amp; dividing NATO will empower Putin &amp; embolden autocrats worldwide.

During the latest US–Russia talks, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund joined Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin. Their presence at the talks underscores how Moscow is leveraging business channels to draw the Trump administration toward its position, as I told The World:

Putin has lied his entire career. Yet Witkoff says we can take Russia “at their word” that they’re not sharing intelligence with Iran. Taking the Kremlin at face value while U.S. intelligence reportedly says otherwise is utterly incomprehensible and mind-boggling naive.

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.

Autocracies are rising. To compete with China & Russia in the 21st century, we need to return to the basics that underpinned Cold War success: strong democratic alliances, global institutions (which can and should be reformed), and renewed engagement and cooperation

Ukraine isn't subjugated. Its government still stands. Its military is stronger than before. NATO expanded with Finland & Sweden joining. And Russia has paid an enormous price in casualties & economic strain. After four years, Putin is further from his goals—not closer.

So we’re telling Ukraine to accept limits on its sovereignty, cede territory & weaken its military. Whose interests does that serve? Not Ukraine’s, America’s or those of our democratic allies. Undermining Ukraine & dividing NATO will empower Putin & embolden autocrats worldwide.