Former US ambassador to Russia blasts Trump’s Putin praise

Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, blasted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Twitter Friday for saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a better leader than President Obama.

Trump and his running mate Mike Pence praised the Russian leader as “stronger” than Obama, citing his polled approval rating as evidence.

If Obama seized control of Fox, allowed only supporters in Congress, closed the NRA & arrested Trump, he too might have 80% approval rating

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 9, 2016

McFaul, who served as the ambassador in Moscow from 2012 to 2014, also slammed Trump for fawning over an authoritarian leader.

In praising Putin, Trump conflates “strong leader” with autocratic rule. Imagine earlier presidents doing that in Cold War or interwar eras?

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) September 9, 2016

The former ambassador has been an outspoken critic of the real estate mogul, arguing that a Trump presidency would be in the Kremlin’s best interest.

Trump has struggled to put to bed claims that his campaign is too close to Russia’s interests, criticism that found new life Thursday evening, when he gave an interview on a TV station owned by the Russian government.