Donald Trump claims his personality is what ‘kept us out of war’ and that Vladimir Putin ‘won’t stop’

Former President Donald Trump claimed his personality is what kept the US ‘out of war’ during his presidency while speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday.

‘The fake news said my personality is going to get us into a war . . . but actually my personality is what kept us out of war,’ he said during a series of campaign-style speeches.

Trump argued that when he was in office he was able to deal with Russia, repeating his claim that ‘nobody was ever tougher on Russia’ than him.

‘I see what’s happening, because if you think Putin’s going to stop, it’s going to get worse and worse. He’s not going to accept it, and we don’t have anybody to talk to him. You had somebody to talk to him with me,’ he said.

The former president also told rally attendees that Russia would not have dared to annex ‘one inch’ of Ukrainian territory if he were still president. Trump has made similar claims since Russia invaded Ukraine three weeks ago, also saying on February 24 that the attack never would have happened if he were still president.

Trump went on to say that the unprovoked attack on Ukraine was as a result of ‘a lack of respect.’

‘I’ll say it again and again — it should’ve never happened if he respected our president,’ Trump said, referring to President Joe Biden.

‘Under Joe Biden, America is neither feared nor respected. There has never been a time where our country has been treated the way it is right now,’ he continued. ‘Other countries are lecturing us and telling us what to do and that’s why we are seeing chaos and mayhem [and] bloodshed all over the world.’

Trump has come under backlash in recent weeks for his constant defense of the Russian President, most recently for an appearance he made on Fox News where he defended comments he made calling Putin ‘smart’ and ‘savvy.’

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