Republicans see Trump as the 'American Navalny'? Hardly. He can't even condemn Putin.

For a guy who fancies himself tough – big and strong and feared! – nobody plays the victim as much as Donald Trump.

Following the all-but-certain murder of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned by all-but-certain murderers in the Putin regime, leaders far and wide condemned Putin’s brutality and transparent silencing of his harshest critic.

Trump, on the other hand, waited a couple days then came out and said northing about Putin’s barbarism, instead using Navalny’s tragic death as a spring board to highlight his own legal woes and imply that he, the still-alive former American president, is the one REALLY getting screwed over.

Navalny's death means nothing to Trump, and he won't blame Putin

Here’s his social media post from Monday:

“The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024”

Oh woe is he!

Of course Trump wasn’t alone in drawing connections that don’t exist between his well-earned legal problems and a Russian political figure who courageously stood up against his country’s tyrannical ruler, inevitably paying the ultimate price.

Trump has GOP programmed to abide his 'I'm always the victim'

Republican mainstay Newt Gingrich was one of the first to dabble in such claptrap, writing in a social media post that the multiple criminal cases Trump brought upon himself are actually examples of Democrats trying “to turn President Trump into an American Navalny.”

Right-wing always-wrong person Dinesh D’Souza also wrote: “Navalny=Trump. The plan of the Biden regime and the Democrats is to ensure their leading political opponent dies in prison.”

Maybe pump the brakes on the crazy there, fellas.

Alexei Navalny from prison: Corruption flourishes when there's disregard for human rights

There are so many ways in which Trump is nothing like Navalny

Because it’s apparently necessary, I’m going to provide a few quick, off-the-top-of-my-head examples of why Donald “91 State and Federal Charges” Trump is not now, never was, never has been and never will be in any way, shape or form ANYTHING like Alexei Navalny.

Navalny was poisoned, imprisoned and then found dead in prison last week, to the surprise of no one, for loudly speaking out against Putin. That’s something Trump has never done and, based on his apparent bromance with the murderous Russian leader, never will.

Navalny’s courage was as vast as the country he loved. Trump’s courage could fit in Putin’s pocket, which seems to also be where Trump resides.

A jury never found Navalny liable for sexually abusing a woman and then defaming her. Trump does not have that distinction, and he will be out $83 million because of it.

No failed businesses, no hush money to porn stars, no nonsense

Navalny never launched his own line of vodka, his own line of steaks, his own airline and his own magazine, only to see each of those ventures swiftly fail. Trump very much did all those things.

Navalny was never hit with a 34-count felony indictment for an alleged hush-money payment to an adult-film star. Trump was. Unlike Navalny, Trump will be judged by a jury of his peers.

More than 60 lawsuits filed by or on behalf of Trump falsely claiming the 2020 U.S. presidential election was somehow rigged or stolen have failed because they lacked proof or merit. It was a wholly legitimate election that Trump lost.

Navalny fought against Russia’s transparently rigged pro-Putin elections using his voice and the truth, eschewing nonsense.

Navalny was silenced by Putin. Trump still refuses to shut up.

Trump's narcissism is as immeasurable as Navalny's courage

I could go on, but it’s not necessary. Trump’s despicable me-first/me-always response to Navalny’s tragic death will undoubtedly continue. He has so wrecked the Republican Party and the brains of his followers that they willfully embrace his ludicrous tales of victimization. They’ll happily let Putin get away with murder, focusing instead on coddling the delicate emotions of their wee leader.

Trump’s remaining presidential primary opponent, Nikki Haley, demonstrated some actual courage Monday after reading the former president’s limp-noodle response to the Russian opposition leader’s death: “Donald Trump could have condemned Vladimir Putin for being a murderous thug. Trump could have praised Navalny’s courage. Instead, he stole a page from liberals’ playbook, denouncing America and comparing our country to Russia.”

I don’t love the jab at liberals like myself, but at least Haley had the wherewithal to take a stand.

Unlike Trump. He’s only capable of seeing one victim in this world: himself.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump won't condemn Putin for Navalny's death. He'll capitalize on it