Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics, surprised many on Wednesday when she applauded the former president for his new, tougher posture toward Russia.
Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Clinton acknowledged Trump’s remarks at the UN General Assembly and on Truth Social, where he suggested Ukraine could reclaim “all of Ukraine back in its original form” with support from NATO and European allies. The comments mark a stark departure from Trump’s earlier suggestions that a peace settlement might involve Ukraine ceding territory.
Clinton told host Joe Scarborough, “I welcomed what the president said yesterday. I thought that given all the back-and-forth that we have seen and heard at Anchorage and elsewhere, his coming to grips with the fact that Vladimir Putin does not respond to any kind of rhetoric, he only responds to strength.”
She continued: “You have to show strength. You have to back strength. You have to be strong in order to deal with him.”
Trump’s Shift in Tone
Trump’s comments this week are notable because they reflect mounting frustration with Russia’s faltering military campaign and its weakened economy under international sanctions. Once seen as willing to explore negotiations, Trump is now openly questioning the competence of Moscow’s armed forces.
On Truth Social, he wrote that Kyiv could regain “the original borders from where this war started” with allied support, pointing to Russia’s battlefield struggles and growing financial pressure at home. He also remarked, “What kind of military does Russia have exactly? They couldn’t even take over Ukraine.”
This sharper tone comes after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York. His remarks highlight a recalibration of strategy—one that views backing Ukraine as not only about defending Europe but also about exposing Russia’s vulnerabilities.
Clinton Warns About Russia, Backs Trump’s Message
Clinton, who has long argued that Putin poses a grave threat to Western security, warned that Russia’s aggression is a “clear and present danger to all of Europe and therefore to the United States.”
But she noted that Trump’s message sends the right signal: “And I think if what President Trump said yesterday is if we help Ukraine, Ukraine can hold the line and may even be able to push Russia back.”
For Republicans, Trump’s harder line could signal a growing recognition that strength and leverage—not concessions—are the path to containing Russia. As Clinton put it, Moscow has been badly overestimated: “We overestimated Russia’s military strength and now we’re seeing that they can be pushed back.”
What “former” president was she referring to? It couldn’t be Trump as he is the CURRENT POTUS!
She must see the tides changing, & is trying (unsuccessfully) to stay relevant.