GOP Rep Calls Out Trump as Putin Ally Amid Ukraine Crisis and Slumping Polls

In a striking departure from the usual party line, Republican U.S. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska publicly declared that it is “pretty clear” President Donald Trump and his team favor Russian strongman Vladimir Putin over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Bacon’s comments, made at the Sedona Forum and reported by Alternet, underscore a growing unease within the GOP about Trump’s alignment with Putin amid Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Bacon, who holds a highly competitive swing seat in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, is facing a tough fight in the 2026 midterms. His razor-thin 2024 victory margin—just 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent—largely hinged on suburban voters who may be less tolerant of Trump’s apparent Russia sympathies. This political pressure likely informs Bacon’s rare public criticism of the former president.

At the forum, Bacon slammed Trump for “totally failing” to confront Russia’s aggression, a damning indictment from a Republican lawmaker. He further revealed his firsthand commitment to countering Putin’s campaign of violence and repression through bipartisan legislation. Bacon recently joined colleagues to introduce the Countering Russia’s War On Faith Act, aimed at documenting and sanctioning Russia’s systematic persecution of religious communities in Ukraine.

“The brutal invasion of Ukraine is not only an attack on a country that seeks democracy, free markets, and alignment with the West, but also includes a deliberate campaign to suppress and persecute religious communities,” Bacon said. “I’m pleased to join Rep. Wilson and my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to stand up for religious liberty and the Ukrainian people.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s political fortunes continue to decline sharply. His approval ratings have sunk to historic lows, even trailing former president Jimmy Carter’s economic approval numbers. This erosion of support is creating fractures within the Republican Party, as lawmakers in vulnerable districts like Bacon’s grapple with the consequences of Trump’s controversial foreign policy stances and erratic leadership.

Bacon’s outspoken critique is a rare moment of clarity in a party that often rallies behind Trump without question. It signals a potential shift among some Republicans who are willing to call out the former president’s troubling affinity for Putin and his failure to stand firmly with Ukraine. As Russia’s war grinds on and Trump eyes a 2024 comeback, these internal GOP tensions will only intensify.

For those tracking the corrosive influence of Trump’s Russia ties and the broader assault on democratic values, Bacon’s comments offer a crucial glimpse into the growing discontent within the GOP ranks. It is a reminder that even in a party long dominated by loyalty to Trump, there are cracks forming—and they may widen as the stakes rise.