Trump’s unforgivable legacy in Ukraine

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary of declared independence this year, citizens turn their thoughts to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and … Benedict Arnold?

Arnold, an ambitious young military officer in the Continental Army, won military victories for America that no one else had achieved, through his sheer tenacity and audacity to win — very much like President Trump’s assertive policies in his first term. But also like Trump, Arnold’s self-aggrandizement did not win the universal praise he craved. Others, whom he considered less worthy, received the recognition and honors he felt he alone deserved.

For Arnold, it was military promotions and rising career assignments; for Trump, it was perhaps the Nobel Peace Prize and re-election.

Both men became increasingly embittered on major national security issues against their own country and ultimately supported some of America’s major adversaries. Trump had been an admirer of strong, nondemocratic leaders even before suffering those perceived slights. Arnold became the new country’s first accused traitor , though he was never formally charged before he fled to England.

Trump has openly blamed Ukraine for starting and continuing the war that Russia started and continues.

Ukraine is a fellow democracy, an aspiring NATO ally already effectively defending NATO territory against further Russian aggression, and a loyal friend of the U.S. Yet Trump constantly disparages its cause, periodically cuts off vitally needed weapons and intelligence support and, with Vice President JD Vance, treats Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in a boorish and bullying manner . It is a vivid contrast to Trump’s openly ingratiating treatment of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin , who has perpetrated extensive war crimes in Ukraine — an embarrassingly demeaning posture for a U.S. president.

Given the obvious threat to NATO that a Russian victory over Ukraine would present, Trump’s increasingly open support for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine — which he once called “genius” and “savvy” — clearly endangers U.S. national security.

Trump has also repeatedly claimed that there wouldn’t have been a Russia-Ukraine war at all if he had been in office at the time. Presumably, he was referring to his close personal relationship with Putin. Does he mean he would have been able, and willing, to confront Putin and dissuade him from his aggressive intentions? Or, conversely, does he mean that he would have been able to discourage Ukraine from defending itself against the Russian onslaught by completely denying it U.S. arms, intelligence and diplomatic support to demonstrate the futility of resistance?

One reliable indicator of Trump’s real intentions is what he has done since returning to office and possessing America’s supreme military, economic and political powers to influence world events. In the six years of Trump’s presidency so far, he has made no visible effort to urge Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, on the basis of either personal respect and “friendship” or because of deference to American power under Trump.

Instead, Trump only mildly suggests that Russia advance no further in Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire in place. Zelensky has repeatedly accepted the U.S. proposal and even halted its attack on Russian refineries this month. While Ukraine held its fire for three days, Russia launched its greatest missile and drone onslaught of the war.

With Republicans poised to lose control of Congress, Trump could fear a revived impeachment effort, this time on the devastating grounds of aiding an enemy of an ally. The formal accusation would be devastating to his legacy.

Arnold escaped the jurisdiction of the states, which would have prosecuted treason at the time. His reputation, not unlike Trump’s, had already been tarnished. He was court-martialed by the Continental Army in 1779 for the non-treasonous charges of profiteering and misconduct.

Trump, through his actions, has made abundantly clear whose side he is on in Russia’s war on Ukraine. If he continues on his overt anti-Ukraine, pro-Putin course, he could well surpass Benedict Arnold’s shameful legacy.

Joseph Bosco served as China country director for the secretary of Defense from 2005 to 2006 and as Asia-Pacific director of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief from 2009 to 2010. He is a nonresident fellow at the Institute for Corean-American Studies, a member of the advisory board of the Global Taiwan Institute and member of the advisory board of the Vandenberg Coalition.