Trump Praises "Smart" Putin, Calls Western Leaders "Very Stupid"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "smart," criticizing Western leaders whom he deemed "very stupid" during a speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday night. Trump stated, "The problem is not that Putin is smart, because he is, of course, smart," adding, "The real problem is that our leaders are very stupid," attributing the "weakness" of Democratic President Joe Biden as the cause of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Continuing his 86-minute speech, Trump claimed, "As everyone understands, this horrific disaster would never have happened if our elections were not rigged." He left the audience uncertain about his desire to personally face Biden for the presidency, but hinted at a possible run in 2024 by saying, "We did it twice, and we will do it again," presenting his defeat in 2020 as a victory.