Question:
Is Trump really serious about improving the U.S. relationship with Putin and Russia?
Observations:
Let’s first review his relevant cabinet appointments:
Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Tulsi Gabbard is the Director of National Intelligence. This position, established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, serves as the executive head of the United States Intelligence Community (IC) and directs the National Intelligence Program (NIP). All 18 IC agencies, including the CIA, DIA, and NSA, report directly to the DNI. Other federal agencies with intelligence capabilities, including the FBI, also report to the DNI.
Gabbard’s appointment has raised serious concerns about her qualifications. She has previously blamed NATO for Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and rejected the conclusion that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons. Senator Mark Warner has expressed concerns that her remarks raise "serious questions" about her judgment and whether U.S. allies will continue to share "their most sensitive intelligence with us." Several NATO allies have already signaled they will limit intelligence-sharing with the U.S. due to doubts about Gabbard’s qualifications and her past public disclosures of sensitive information.
Warner also noted Gabbard’s outspoken praise of NSA leaker Edward Snowden, who compromised key U.S. intelligence sources. Gabbard has described Snowden as a "brave whistleblower" and even introduced legislation calling for his pardon.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Kash Patel has been confirmed as the ninth director of the FBI and also serves as the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Like Gabbard, Patel has a contentious history with both the FBI and CIA. In January 2025, CNN reported that Patel had clashed with the FBI and CIA for years, particularly in his handling of national security secrets. The CIA previously asked the Trump Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into Patel for circulating classified information about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election to unauthorized officials.
Two days before Patel's Senate confirmation hearing, 23 former Republican officials released a letter stating that his confirmation would be "a grievous mistake that would endanger the FBI's integrity and compromise its critical mission." They accused Patel of being "motivated by revenge" and warned that he had repeatedly vowed to weaponize the FBI against perceived enemies.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
John Ratcliffe was nominated as Director of the CIA and confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 2025.
In early February, the CIA offered voluntary buyouts to employees willing to resign, raising concerns about a mass exodus of experienced intelligence professionals. Later that month, the CIA complied with an executive order from Trump, providing the White House with the first names and last initials of all employees hired in the past two years. Former intelligence officials have condemned this move, warning that it could compromise U.S. counterintelligence efforts and put undercover agents at risk.
Department of Defense
Pete Hegseth was nominated as Secretary of Defense and confirmed by a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. Hegseth’s appointment was controversial due to allegations of domestic abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and infidelity.
One of his first actions was a purge within the Defense Department, including the firing of three top judge advocate generals and Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations. Hegseth justified these actions by saying, "we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice" rather than "roadblocks."
In March, Hegseth ordered the U.S. Cyber Command to halt offensive operations against Russia, claiming this would encourage Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Hypothesis:
The backgrounds and early decisions of Gabbard, Patel, Ratcliffe, and Hegseth reveal a consistent pattern that sheds light on their usefulness to Trump and his relationship with Putin:
✔ They are all unqualified for their new positions.
✔ They all have strong ties to far-right causes.
✔ They all exhibit authoritarian tendencies.
✔ They have little respect for the rule of law.
✔ They are actively dismantling the institutions they were appointed to lead.
Each of these agencies depends on specialized training, extensive security clearances, and unwavering loyalty to the Constitution. All four individuals have publicly signaled their intent—with Trump’s explicit approval—to undermine their respective agencies. They echo Trump’s claims that these institutions are filled with "deep state" actors out to get him.
Dismantling U.S. Intelligence
If the FBI and CIA are gutted as threatened, U.S. intelligence efforts to counter Russian, Chinese, and North Korean espionage and cyberattacks will be severely weakened. Mass resignations, funding cuts, and a loss of skilled operatives will cripple national security efforts. Worse yet, rebuilding these agencies after Trump’s tenure will take years, if not decades.
Military Weakening
Hegseth’s leadership is similarly devastating. His purge of senior military leaders—particularly women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ personnel—has already impacted recruitment. The removal of historical references such as the Enola Gay and the Tuskegee Airmen suggests a radical rewrite of military history to align with far-right ideology.
With these changes, the U.S. military’s strength and global credibility will decline, encouraging Russia, China, and North Korea to expand their influence unchecked.
Final Thoughts
Trump—a.k.a. Putin’s Patsy (PP for short)—has done more to bolster Russia’s geopolitical standing than Putin could have hoped for. His false claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy started the war and is a "dictator" further signal his alignment with the Kremlin.
With Trump’s new intelligence and defense appointments, the NATO alliance is strained, and Russia stands to gain the most. These actions directly tip the global balance of power in Putin’s favor—at the expense of American security and global stability.
📝 Weekend Joe
✉ Joe Elliott – ejoe2397@gmail.com
✉ Carolann Connor – ccnana0920@gmail.com
#USPolitics #TrumpRussia #NationalSecurity #DismantlingDemocracy #GOPCorruption #FBI #CIA #DNI #DOD #PutinsPatsy #ProtectDemocracy #StopTrump #VoteBlue #AmericanSecurity
Comentarios