Roller Coaster
From Trumpists to Communists. The forces in the U.S. impeding aid to Ukraine and how they do it
Analytics, Data, and Text: Inna Gadzynska, Serhii Mikhalkov, Mykhailo Tymoshenko, Volodymyr Lytvynov
Design and Graphics: Nadja Kelm, Yevhenia Drozdova
The project is funded exclusively by the readers of Texty.org.ua. You can support our work here.
Supplement dated June 9, 2024
This is a Statement of Facts. Neither “a List of Enemies”, nor “a Kill-List”.
This article has sparked a swift and organized wave of hate on social media platform X, based on manipulative accusations. Therefore, we find it necessary to provide an explanation for readers who draw their own conclusions after reviewing the material.
The table of research subjects, which has generated the most controversy, is neither a "list of enemies of Ukraine" nor a "kill list," as it has been labeled in numerous posts circulating on platform X.
These data were collected and published solely to demonstrate the evidence supporting the theses presented in the article. The article itself is not an accusation but a study of the political and media context that influences government decisions regarding further support for Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The editorial team of Texty.org.ua does not deny, condemn, or dispute the right of American citizens, media, and institutions to express any opinions or hold any political beliefs.
We value and respect freedom of speech, which is essential for a democratic society.
In turn, we reserve the right to investigate a topic directly related to the preservation of Ukrainian statehood, present evidence, state facts, debunk false arguments, and compare them with those propagated by Russian propaganda worldwide for decades, since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war (unfortunately, this part of our research was not as popular among readers).
The decision to conduct and publish this research is the sole responsibility of the Texty.org.ua team, whose work on this project is funded by reader donations (you can also contribute here).
We are open to discussion and reasoned feedback.
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In April 2022, Congressman Mark Amodei praised Ukrainians for their efforts in fighting for their independence and emphasized the importance of supporting them. He backed all pro-Ukrainian initiatives in Congress. However, in April 2024, he unexpectedly voted against allocating aid to Ukraine.
In September 2023, Senators Tom Cotton and Lindsey Graham wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to provide Ukraine with ATACMS missiles ranging from 165 to 270 kilometers, depending on the particular model. By February 2024, however, they voted against a bill proposing aid for Ukraine, only to vote in favor of it in April. Graham and Cotton are not the only flip-flopping politicians in the U.S. Congress.
Such inconsistency in decisions can also be observed in other American politicians. Why do these fluctuations occur?
Texty.org.ua decided to research the reasons expressed by the media and expert communities contributing to political discordance within the decision-making establishment.
As a result, we identified a wide range of groups opposing support for Ukraine, from Trump supporters to communists, and explored the ecosystem of mutual support among those who hold this position.
Between November 2023 and April 2024, we processed several thousand pieces of content mentioning the war in Ukraine. We analyzed statements and publications from influential public figures and organizations in the United States, using internet and social media content since February 24, 2022.
Our study included reading articles, monitoring social media posts (mostly X), watching videos, and listening to podcasts where Ukraine was mentioned.
Over several months, we examined thousands of pieces of content related to the war in Ukraine, identifying dozens of key narratives that align with those promoted by Russia and aim to undermine Western support for Ukraine on the battlefield.
Our focus was primarily on politicians, members of Congress, journalists, influencers, media organizations, think tanks, and civic activists. However, we did not track all content distributed by any specific individual or organization. Inclusion in our study required at least one piece of content or action that aimed to reduce or halt support for Ukraine.
Our aim was not to cover the entire information landscape or every narrative about Ukraine but to document the most prevalent narratives in political, media, and expert communities.
We also explored the informational environment and the connections among individuals and communities that came into our focus. We examined whether they support each other through public statements or collaborative actions.
During the first year of Russia's full-scale invasion, support from the American people for weapons and funding for Ukraine was crucial to its ability to hold off and push back against Russian aggression. Millions of Americans across the political spectrum continue to support Ukraine fervently. Yet, towards the end of 2023, the U.S. government paused its financial and military assistance for six months.
House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed putting the relevant bills up for a vote for several months despite theoretical bipartisan support.
Ultimately, the House of Representatives passed the aid package on April 20, 2024, although Donald Trump's allies worked vigorously to block it. In the end, 112 Republican members voted against the aid.
April 20th 2024. “Ukrainian flags fly in the chamber of the UNITED STATES House of Representatives as they vote to send more of your hard-earned money to a corrupt foreign regime. And just like that, they shout ‘UKRAINE! UKRAINE!’ while happily working to secure Ukraine’s borders, not ours,” Senator Rand Paul wrote in a post on X.
The delay has had severe consequences on the Ukrainian front, leading to increased casualties among Ukrainian troops and a gradual retreat by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The events in the U.S. Congress are merely the surface of deeper issues. Numerous NGOs, well-known activists, and political commentators in the U.S. consistently advocate for American isolationism and oppose support for Ukraine.
Their stance is significant in the context of the ongoing war, given Ukraine's heavy reliance on U.S. assistance, which is increasingly challenging to secure.
We've identified a broad spectrum of aid opponents, ranging from Trump supporters to communists, and examined their connections.
While our research does not cover every public figure opposing aid to Ukraine, it highlights prominent individuals and common arguments that often mirror Kremlin propaganda.
There are 386 individuals and 76 organizations in our list. These include politicians, political movements and groups, media and journalists, experts, and think tanks (some individuals appear in multiple categories).
A little more than half of the individuals in this sample are right-wing, about one in eight are left-wing, and the rest do not associate themselves with a specific ideological platform. The right-wing individuals are mostly politicians affiliated with the Trump wing of the Republican Party. Most of the left-wing individuals are anti-war activists and left-leaning parties that urge the government to stop funding Ukraine. Most of the media, journalists, experts, and think tanks in this list do not have a clear right or left bias.
Out of these,
50 individuals have collaborated with Russian media and
government-funded initiatives during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (after February 24,
2022). Some have moved to Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine. Around 30 journalists
and influencers work as reporters and contributors for Russian media and also serve as observers
at illegal referendums in Russian-occupied territories.
* Correction made on 06/08/2024. Instead of "Works for Russia," we wrote "Cooperates with
Russia," which is a more accurate translation of the Ukrainian word "співпрацює" (cooperates)
Over 30 individuals and organizations on the list have been noted for spreading conspiracy theories. Two-thirds of these conspiracy theorists belong to the media sector, less than a third are involved in politics, and only three are from the expert community.
In the political realm, we have identified politicians, political parties and movements, civil society organizations, political activists, and investors in political forces. Nearly all the politicians are members of the Republican Party, except two Libertarians and leaders of a few small left-wing political groups. The left-wing predominates among the political activists and movements, primarily pacifists. This group also includes a small political faction of Democrats known as "The Squad" in the U.S. Congress. We also included several business people and venture capitalists in the political sphere, as they fund politicians who demand an end to support for Ukraine. These are primarily investors in Republican politicians.
We included 116 members of the U.S. House of Representatives (out of a total of 435) and 21 senators (out of 100) who did not support the bill for aid to Ukraine in April 2024. All of them are members of the Republican Party. The majority are supporters of Donald Trump, who also advocate for suspending support for Ukraine.
The list includes around 100 journalists and over 30 media outlets, with only one being mainstream. Among the media professionals are many podcast creators and political talk show hosts. Those who have been banned from mainstream social networks and media platforms have created their channels for disseminating information, including private ones.
The approximately 30 influencers on the list hold diverse beliefs. Among them are left-wing and right-wing, as well as those who work for Russian media or have relocated to Russia. Some belong to the expert community, others are political activists, and some are journalists. However, they all have large social media followings, ranging from thousands to millions of followers.
This list includes around 30 right-wing media figures and up to 10 left-wing ones. The ideological platform of the majority (around 90) is not clearly defined. Two-thirds of the media organizations lean towards right-wing ideology, with a few being left-wing. Right-wing media predominantly advocate for isolationism concerning the war in Ukraine. Left-wing outlets call for an end to the bloodshed by stopping the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
We included 30 think tanks and over 80 experts, including academics, veterans, political consultants, and former politicians. Many of the experts advocate U.S. isolationist policies and represent think tanks, anti-war, and climate initiatives.
The ideological platform of most experts and think tanks in this list is not clearly defined (including some Russian projects). About three dozen have a right-wing bias. Among them are projects associated with billionaire Charles Koch and politician Donald Trump. Around fifteen leans towards the left. While their arguments vary, their conclusions are often similar: either reduce the aid to Ukraine or stop it altogether.
See more detailed infographics on listed entities here.
Investors and Venture Capitalists
The technologies from Starlink and Palantir, owned by Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are aiding Ukrainians in their conflict, necessitating an explanation for their inclusion in this list. After Elon Musk acquired the "Twitter" network (now X), Russian propaganda significantly ramped up on the platform. He frequently shares with his 187 million followers a highly skeptical view of the United States' financial support for Ukraine, aligning with Russian narratives.
Peter Thiel, the founder of PayPal and Palantir, advocates for isolationism in modern US politics and is a key investor in influential Republicans like Blake Masters and J.D. Vance, who are known for blocking aid to Ukraine. In 2021, Peter Thiel, J.D. Vance, and Vivek Ramaswamy invested in the social network Rumble. This platform became an alternative for the then-banned Donald Trump on Twitter and the blocked Russian media outlet Russia Today (RT) in 2022.
Vivek Ramaswamy during an interview with Tucker Carlson for his website
Billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, dubbed "the young Trump," withdrew from the presidential race to support Trump. They both publicly exchanged compliments and planned to collaborate. Ramaswamy has frequently made headlines with his anti-Ukrainian statements, claiming, "Putin was able to seize eastern Ukraine because there was no resistance there like in the rest of Ukraine" because "the eastern regions of Ukraine are Russian-speaking and do not even consider themselves part of Ukraine."
“I think that’s a fictitious scenario for a lot of reasons. Part of the reason Putin has been able to seize eastern Ukraine is they have not had the same level of resistance as the rest of Ukraine.”
“The eastern regions of Ukraine are Russian speaking and don’t even really view themselves as part of Ukraine … that is why there was no counter-insurgency or resistance.”
The 2014 parliamentary elections demonstrated that most voters across the country opted for parties that favored European integration. The results of the 2019 presidential election reinforced this trend. Here is the map of votes for Zelensky in the second round.
In 2022, residents of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, which were attacked by the Russian army on February 24, resisted the invaders. The Russians captured these areas with considerable numerical and armed superiority. Unarmed residents protested in the streets of the occupied cities in the early days following the Russian takeover.
Subsequently, the occupiers began to kill and torture the protesters. Throughout the occupation, the Russian army committed numerous war crimes in these territories. Russian soldiers killed, tortured, and raped residents for any pro-Ukrainian sentiments.
For additional counterarguments to Russian propaganda, see "Narratives."
Ohio Senator James David Vance joins obstructing support for "Ramaswamy in word and deed" with public statements and votes "against" in the Senate.
On April 20, 2023, Vance, along with 18 other representatives of the US Republican Party, signed a letter to US President Joseph Biden stating that "unlimited US assistance to Ukraine should be terminated" and that the signatories of the letter “we will adamantly oppose all future aid packages unless they are linked to a clear diplomatic strategy designed to bring this war to a rapid conclusion.”
Charles Koch is an American billionaire who is associated with several think tanks like Stand Together, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the Cato Institute, and Concerned Veterans for America, which have taken an isolationist position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war and advocate for not provoking Russia, to beware of escalation, and forcing Ukraine to negotiate by limiting military support, etc.
Isolationism—avoiding involvement in international affairs and political alliances—was the basis of official U.S. foreign policy in the 1920s and 1930s. The U.S.'s entry into World War II marked a setback for isolationists. Post-war, the U.S. emerged as a global power with an active foreign policy stance.
The experts of these think tanks, as well as Russian officials, name the US policy toward Ukraine in recent decades and NATO's eastward expansion as the causes of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
If Russia wins this war, the international order established after World War II will be destroyed, and Russia's ambitions will not stop with Ukraine. Putin's next target will likely be Moldova, Georgia, or even NATO member states in the Baltic region.
Russia's victory will inspire China to attack Taiwan. Thus, Ukraine's victory means stopping the spread of war.
For additional counterarguments to Russian propaganda, see "Narratives."
Grant Cardone, a training company owner and Scientology supporter who has been accused of fraud on several occasions, has 1.1 million followers on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and writes many tweets like "Ukraine is the biggest Go Fund scam in history. Stop Funding this war."
Also on the list is Ben Cohen, co-owner of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream company, who funds the Eisenhower Media Network, an organization of military experts and veterans.
Arguments for ending support for Ukraine echo Russian propaganda
Most of the people in our study do not have direct, proven ties to the Russian government or propagandists. However, the arguments they use to urge authorities to distance themselves from Ukraine echo key messages of Russian propaganda aimed at depriving Ukrainians of the ability to defend themselves with Western weapons and funds.
Even long-debunked myths continue to surface, such as claims of Nazi dominance and American Biolabs in Ukraine and the portrayal of the 2014 Revolution of Dignity as a coup.
You can find the complete list of identified narratives and their debunking here.
Peterson, Putin, and Christian Values
In mid-2022, following the devastation of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine by Russian forces, Jordan Peterson, a widely followed Canadian psychologist, and fan of Dostoevsky who was treated in Moscow for six months in 2020, rationalized Putin’s attack on Ukraine as a defense of traditional Christian values against the corrosive impact of Western culture. This narrative aligns with the explanations provided by Russian officials to their domestic audience.