Does Trump like Russia? (2)

"This article is solely a personal opinion and aims to discuss current affairs without involving legal issues or sensitive political positions."

Of course, Trump himself has a pro-Russian inclination. His daughter's name is Ivanka, but many people don’t realize that this is a typical Russian name. For example, a Russian nuclear bomb is called "Big Ivan."

Why did Trump’s daughter get a Russian-style name? It’s because Trump’s ex-wife, Ivana, is Czech and a Slavic woman. When they got married, the Czech Republic was still a socialist country and a Soviet ally, heavily influenced by the USSR.

Later, after divorcing Ivana, Trump married Melania, who was born in Yugoslavia and is also of Slavic descent. The Slavic cultural environment in his family subtly influenced his affinity for Russia. Not only that, but the development of Trump’s business empire has also been highly dependent on Russian capital.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Trump keenly sensed the business opportunities in Eastern Europe’s upheaval and planned to build the world's tallest building in Moscow. To pursue this project, he had multiple private meetings with Russian real estate tycoons. Although the project ultimately fell through, the network of contacts he built in Russia remained.

Later, in the 1990s and 2000s, Trump faced two financial crises where he nearly went bankrupt, and almost no financial institutions were willing to lend him money.

Both times, mysterious Russian funds came to his rescue. For instance, Trump Tower—right after the demolition of the original site in 1998—was completed and opened in 2001, thanks to Russian capital. In fact, one-third of the units available for sale on floors 78 to 83 of Trump Tower were owned by Russian individuals or companies connected to Russia.

Similarly, in 2018, when Trump’s project in Palm Beach, Florida, was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the subprime mortgage crisis, a Russian oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev, invested $80 million to help Trump get through the crisis. Rybolovlev happens to be a close friend of Putin.

This deep financial entanglement is a key underlying factor in understanding Trump's political decisions. It naturally inclines him toward improving U.S.-Russia relations to protect his business interests.

Beyond financial ties, Trump’s ideological affinity also contributes to his pro-Russian stance. He and Putin share a highly similar political philosophy—both are right-wing conservatives who advocate strongman politics, oppose globalization, resist multiculturalism, and prioritize national interests.

Just look at Trump’s current authoritarian policies—aren’t they modeled after Putin’s? Putin even enacted laws prohibiting LGBTQ+ propaganda, something Trump has long wanted to do but couldn’t.

This is why Alexander Dugin, Putin’s ideological strategist, once described Trump and Putin’s relationship as a natural alliance of conservatives on the international stage. Putin has always been Trump’s idol.

In 2017, when Putin was named Time’s Person of the Year, Trump personally wrote him three letters expressing his admiration, like a devoted fan. When hosting the Miss Universe pageant, Trump deliberately chose Moscow as the venue and even invited Putin to attend.

After finally becoming president, Trump openly showed special admiration for Putin.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel mentioned in her memoirs that Trump frequently asked her about Putin—his personality, their relationship, and more. Merkel even stated that Trump’s attitude toward Putin was more like that of a fan meeting his idol.

Trump has even publicly praised Putin, calling him a "very tough and great leader."

Have you ever noticed that Trump, who never hesitates to criticize anyone, has never once insulted Putin?

Likewise, Putin has never mocked Trump. In fact, after Trump had a falling out with Zelensky on February 8, Trump even warned Zelensky to stop speaking badly about Putin—something that looks exactly like a fan protecting their idol.

Now you understand why the Democrats keep pushing the "Trump-Russia collusion" narrative. It’s because there really is something shady between Trump and Russia.