“The idea that a former president would praise the man or leadership who American troops are even now traveling to confront and contain,” said Jeffrey Engel, a presidential historian at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, “is astounding.” Historians called the remarks unprecedented. “He’s taken over a country for $2 worth of sanctions,” he said, “taking over a country - really a vast, vast location, a great piece of land with a lot of people - and just walking right in.” Trump said on Wednesday at a Florida fund-raiser, assessing the impending invasion like a real estate deal. Trump had nothing but admiration for President Vladimir V. As Russia prepared to strike Ukraine and the United States rushed to defend neighboring allies in Europe, former President Donald J.
