Former President Trump
Donald TrumpTop Hispanic lawmaker urges Biden to expedite reunification of Ukrainians in US Democrats plot strategy to defy expectations, limit midterm losses Overnight Health Care — Texas abortion providers dealt critical blow MORE reportedly joked on Saturday that the U.S. should “put the Chinese flag” on F-22 fighter jets and “bomb the shit” out of Russia.
Trump made the comment to top Republican National Committee donors at a retreat in New Orleans, according to CBS News.
The network reported that the former president suggested that the U.S. should blame China for the offensive and then watch as the two countries engage in a conflict.
"And then we say, 'China did it,'" Trump said, which, according to an unidentified source cited by CBS News, elicited laughs in the room. "Then they start fighting with each other, and we sit back and watch."
The Washington Post also reported on Trump’s comments.
Trump sparked criticism last month for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinDemocrats plot strategy to defy expectations, limit midterm losses On The Money — US suspending normal trade with Russia Overnight Energy & Environment — Here's who wins from high gas prices MORE “smart” and “pretty savvy” as Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. A number of GOP figures pushed back on those comments, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump to hold rally for Perdue, Walker in Georgia Biden says US, allies to revoke 'most favored nation' trade status for Russia Senate averts shutdown, passes .6B in Ukraine aid MORE (Ky.).
Days later, the former president appeared to shift his tone, calling the conflict in Ukraine “a Holocaust” during a wide-ranging interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo
Maria Sara BartiromoPence ramps up political activity as he eyes 2024 run Portions of Smartmatic lawsuit against Fox News can proceed, judge rules Trump jokes US should 'put the Chinese flag' on F-22 fighter jets and 'bomb the s---' out of Russia: report MORE and urging Russia to stop fighting. He said Moscow had “to stop killing these people” and suggested that a deal could be reached to end the conflict.
During that same interview, Trump said he believed China would invade Taiwan sooner rather than later.
He said such an offensive would occur on a faster timeline “because they're seeing how stupid the United States is run.”
“They're seeing that our leaders are incompetent, and of course they're going to do — this is their time,” he added.
