Rep. Madison Cawthorn Blasts Ukraine’s Zelensky As A ‘Thug’

Rep. Madison Cawthorn Blasts Ukraine’s Zelensky As A ‘Thug’

Share to Linkedin In a video obtained by a North Carolina TV station, right-wing firebrand Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N. C.) told a crowd of supporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is a "thug" leading a government that is "incredibly evil," in a sharp break from the generally bipartisan support the country has received in Congress as it battles a Russian invasion. In this image from video, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N. C.) speaks as the House debates the objection ... [+] to confirm the Electoral College vote from Pennsylvania at the U. S. Capitol early on January 7, 2021. (House Television via AP, File) WRAL-TV published a 13-second clip Thursday of Cawthorn railing against Ukraine and "woke ideologies" he accuses the Zelensky government of pushing. It's not clear where or when the comments were made, but former White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove (R) mentioned the remarks in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published Wednesday evening, saying Cawthorn made them at a town hall in Asheville, North Carolina, on Saturday. The comments fly against the general support Ukraine has been receiving from congressional Republicans, with party leaders like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader