California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu and MSNBC host Alex Witt floated the speculation Saturday that Donald Trump’s up to date comments about NATO ended in the loss of life of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in jail on Friday.

“It’s rather a coincidence,” said Lieu of the timing.

In a friendly interview on MSNBC’s Alex Witt Studies, the host asked the innovative congressman first in regards to the dying of Navalny and the duty for it, citing that President Joe Biden has publicly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny, a distinguished Putin critic and activist, died in Siberia on Friday, where he’d been imprisoned at the notorious “Polar Wolf” penal colony north of the Arctic Circle via the Russian chief’s authoritarian regime since returning to Russia after surviving being poisoned with the aid of Putin thugs in 2020.

“Let’s start with the loss of life of the Russian leader, Alexei Navalny. It used to be in a Siberian prison, as you know. President Biden says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is answerable for his death,” Witt said to Lieu on Saturday. “To begin with, what are your thoughts about this and the way, if we will, should the U.S. hang Russia responsible?”

Lieu immediately drew a direct line to Trump, leaving no thriller about what he used to be suggesting.

“I think we have to ask ourselves, why did Navalny impulsively die at this point in time?” he stated, setting up the timeline to peg it to Trump’s recent feedback.

“I first of all, believe President Biden that Russia is answerable for his loss of life. Additionally, what took place in a few days prime as much as his dying?” stated Lieu. “Neatly, we had former President Donald Trump basically say that Russia must assault European nations.”

The remarks he was regarding had been made by Trump at a rally, during which he bragged to his MAGA target audience that he instructed NATO allies if their dues had been in arrears, the U.S. would not simplest now not protect them from Russia, but “actually I’d motivate them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.”

“That’s crazy. That is traitorous language. Russia undoubtedly was once listening, and I think they notion, good day, we have a inexperienced mild to do all forms of crazy stuff,” Lieu stated to Witt, drawing the direct line to the death of Navalny on account of Trump’s permission.

Witt took note of the remark and requested about it, announcing to Lieu, “are you suggesting there generally is a link between what Donald Trump was once announcing — saying Russia, do whatever the hell you want to our NATO allies — do you suppose it emboldened, probably, Putin?”

Prior to he could solution, Witt delivered more detail to shore up their theory.

“As a result of to your other point, the day ahead of he died, he gave the look to be in completely excellent well being. He’d spoken together with his wife. He appeared via zoom, in some type of a criminal arrangement that he had to do there. We’re looking at pictures right there. He used to be joking with the guards, joking with the decide or an lawyer there. He regarded absolutely fantastic,” sh mentioned. “Tomorrow drops dead?”

Lieu sewed up their cause and impact define by using adding, “I believe it’s slightly a accident. And indisputably Russia is listening to what the previous president is pronouncing. He’s saying loopy stuff.”

Watch the clip above by the use of MSNBC.

The put up Democratic Rep. and MSNBC Host Glide Concept Donald Trump Responsible for Death of Alexei Navalny first seemed on Mediaite.