Trump Fails To Mention Putin In First Reaction To Navalnys Death

Former President Donald Trump on Monday finally reacted to the death of Alexei Navalny, three days after the passing of the Russian opposition figure was first reported, but notably failed to mention Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a post of his Truth Social platform, Trump said Navalnys death in a Russian penal colony near the Arctic Circle somehow illustrates what he described as Americas path to destruction.

The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country, Trump wrote. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction.

Trump made no reference to Putin, who Navalnys allies have accused of orchestrating his death.

Nikki Haley, Trumps main rival in the Republican presidential primary, on Sunday told a Fox News town hall that the former president needs to answer whether he thinks Putin is responsible for Navalny.

During the same event, Haley also called out Trumps approach to Putin.

Every time he was in the same room with him, he got weak in the knees, she said.

Navalny died Friday after he lost consciousness after feeling unwell during a walk, the Federal Prison Servi announced. While emergency services tended to him, they failed to revive him, they added.

Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, on Monday said Putin was behind the death of her husband, and called out Russian authorities for blocking her mother-in-law from entering the morgue where Navalnys body is allegedly being held.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Meanwhile, right-wing Republicans are comparing Navalnys death to the legal challenges facing Trump.

As the world reflects on the murder of Alexei Navalny at the hands of Putin, its worth remembering that Democrats are actively doing Bidens bidding as they also try to imprison his chief political opponent, Donald Trump, remove him from the ballot, and ensure he dies in prison, former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) wrote.

Trump has been criminally indicted four times, including for his effort to overturn the 2020 election.