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Letter: Is Putin the enemy of Trump supporters’ enemy?

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Chilean president Sebastian Pinera, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

It has been reported recently that some Trump supporters appear to be little concerned with the role that Russia may or may not have played in influencing the 2016 presidential election. This apparent lack of concern has been perplexing to many political observers given the America First rhetoric and the emphasis on patriotism and defending our borders against foreign intrusions that Trump supporters promulgate.

When we consider the forces that were at play at the time of the election, two dynamics come to mind: First, most Trump supporters disliked Hillary Clinton intensely and, second, Vladimir Putin disliked (hated?) Clinton as well, to the point of taking pleasure in seeing her defeated in the election as payback for her critical positions regarding Russia.

The apparent discrepancy between Trump supporters and their lack of concern for possible Russian interference becomes more comprehensible when we consider a centuries-old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Putin was clearly the enemy of my enemy (Clinton) in the eyes of some Trump supporters.

Steven Ross, Millcreek

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