Conservative Republican Madison Cawthorn was recorded on video calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug” and the government of Ukraine “evil” and “woke.”
The 26-year-old congressman’s remarks were first obtained by a Raleigh, North Carolina television station and have quickly gone viral. (RELATED: Rep. Madison Cawthorn Charged With Driving With Revoked License, Faces Possible Jail Time)
“Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.” h/t @WRAL pic.twitter.com/cf3sew7MOp — The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) March 10, 2022
Mediaite has more on the comments, which conflict with Donald Trump and the GOP at large — as well as Cawthorn’s response to the controversy.
Republican state Senator Chuck Edwards (NC) took to Twitter to state, “The thug is Vladimir Putin,” after Cawthorn’s remarks went viral.
Let’s be clear. The thug is Vladimir Putin. We must unite as a nation to pray for President Zelensky and the brave people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and their freedom.
Anything less is counter to everything we stand for in America.#ncpol #wncpol #ncga #NC11 — Chuck Edwards (@ChuckEdwards4NC) March 10, 2022
“We must unite as a nation to pray for President Zelensky and the brave people of Ukraine who are fighting for their lives and their freedom,” he added. “Anything less is counter to everything we stand for in America.”
Cawthorn sent a follow-up tweet at lunchtime saying “The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America.” (RELATED: PDB – White House Warns Putin May Use Chemical Weapons)
The actions of Putin and Russia are disgusting. But leaders, including Zelensky, should NOT push misinformation on America. I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Pray also we are not drawn into conflict based on foreign leaders pushing misinformation.
— Rep. Madison Cawthorn (@RepCawthorn) March 10, 2022
The article Cawthorn linked to largely focused on the viral story of Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island, as many believed they were killed by a Russian attack, but were later reported as “alive and well.”
“I do not want Americans dying because emotions pushed us into a conflict,” he added.