'You've got to show him you mean business': Sen Kennedy questions Trump's Putin strategy

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator John Kennedy criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the Ukraine peace process and approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump is facing intensified pushback from within the GOP over his war strategies and methods to deal with enemy countries.  

Several of his GOP colleagues not only have questioned his decision to enter war with Iran, but have also rebuked his approach toward the Islamic country and his reported failure to achieve war objectives set before the war.

John Kennedy advises Trump to take a different approach with Putin

Appearing on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ on Sunday, September 6, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said he believes the Trump administration should take a different approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“This guy’s a pirate. He’s got blood under his fingernails. He doesn’t care about a bunch of pretty talk,” Kennedy said, as US envoys meet with leaders on both sides of the conflict. “You don’t get any credit for kissing his a**. You’ve got to show him you mean business.”

“We should have passed that Russian sanctions bill, and we’ve got another chance to do it,” the Louisiana senator said. “Then we ought to help Ukraine and help Europe. They’re doing OK on their own, but we can provide them intelligence.”

Kennedy’s comments come as President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Russia and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this weekend.

“We got Putin down. We’re choking him to death. We’re choking him. We’ve got to choke him to death. That’s what he understands,” the senator added. “I’m not putting down any of the talk, and I think talk is good and it can be helpful. But I won’t faint with surprise if our guys don’t come out of there without a deal.”

John Kennedy says Iran blockade is smart play

Kennedy also spoke about the ongoing military conflict with Iran, speculating that the war will “probably not” end before the upcoming midterm elections.

He praised Trump’s decision to launch a military assault on Iran and hailed the decision to impose a naval blockade.

“We have accomplished all of our objectives in Iran.... There’s just one problem: the Strait [of Hormuz] is semi-closed,” he said.

“The blockade was a smart play,” Kennedy said. “It’s hurting the Iranians badly. It’s hurting the government.”

He said he believes the US should leave the blockade in place for a few more months if Americans can “stand the pain at the pump.”