Trump denies Iran is getting military help from Russia and China, despite worries from ‘morons and lunatics’

DAILYMAIL.COM • 14h ago

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER 06:23 13 Oct 2026, updated 06:23 13 Oct 2026

Donald Trump called his critics ‘Radical Left Morons and Lunatics’ for criticizing his decision to buy Russian diesel from Vladimir Putin and denied Moscow was helping Iran.

Trump’s diesel deal has been blasted by both Republicans and Democrats for helping Russia’s war against Ukraine, violating existing laws and drawing the US closer to Russia.

They’ve also suggested that Russia is on the side of enemies like Iran with their war efforts against the United States, something the President scoffed at his critics for suggesting in a post to Truth Social on Monday night.

‘I see so many comments from the Radical Left Morons and Lunatics that China and Russia are helping the ‘wonderful’ Islamic Republic of Iran,’ he wrote.

‘If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all. They have too much to lose, and we would know about it, and know about it very fast!’

Trump said on social media on Friday that he struck the deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call in which he was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia.

Instead, Trump announced that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons ‘immediately thereafter.’

Russia will deliver an additional three million tons ‘within a short period of time’ after that, he wrote.

Trump’s shocking announcement was in stark contrast to a sweeping Russia sanctions law he signed last month that aimed at clamping down on the oil and gas revenues that fuel Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it ‘a weak decision, unfortunately, a weak decision by strong partners,’ according to a statement released by the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington.

However, Trump has also faced heavy criticism at home, even from his own party.

Outgoing North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis warned that Putin cannot be trusted, pointing to Russia’s ties with Iran and reports that Moscow has provided intelligence on the location of US forces.

‘And I will guarantee you at the first opportunity Putin has to embarrass or undermine President Trump, he will,’ said the senator.

When asked whether the deal was putting American lives at risk, Tillis responded: ‘It absolutely will.’

‘These are bad people hanging out with bad people, putting American lives at risk, particularly our Special Operators and people forward deployed,’ he added.

The senator urged US intelligence officials to warn Trump about the dangers of trusting Putin.

‘Look, this guy has a murderous rap sheet. He cannot be trusted,’ he added.

The Republican also blasted Trump for suggesting Ukraine should find a new leader: ‘The president needs to realize that tens of thousands of people have died over this illegal invasion, and I get it that he may be frustrated.’

‘But he needs to understand who the good guys are in this disagreement and who the bad guys are, and it’s not even close.’

The senator also questioned if Trump may have broken the law by lifting sanctions on Russia.

Earlier Monday, Fox & Friends anchor Brian Kilmeade said Trump was making a fatal mistake with the deal.

Kilmeade accused Putin of being responsible for the bloodshed in Ukraine, fiercely defended Kyiv’s military campaign and warned that American money flowing into Russia would benefit the very country that started the war.

‘They’re the bad guys,’ Kilmeade declared during the heated exchange.

He went even further, comparing the Russian leader to Adolf Hitler and warned that closer cooperation between Washington and Moscow could have devastating consequences.

‘It would be the biggest mistake of his administration to work with Russia,’ Kilmeade said. ‘That’s the modern Hitler of our generation.’

Trump’s move followed mounting pressure on global energy supplies as the conflict involving Iran sent fuel prices soaring, creating a political headache for Republicans ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

European allies, including Britain, France and Germany, expressed support for efforts to halt attacks on energy infrastructure while maintaining their backing for Ukraine.

But Trump’s separate decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel attracted fierce criticism.

Seven American senators, including four Republicans, issued a statement condemning the arrangement as illegal.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also attacked the move, saying it was ‘in direct opposition to the efforts of Ukraine, Canada and our allies to create peace and stability in Europe.’

Zelensky branded the diesel arrangement a ‘weak decision’ and rejected Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine needed a change of leadership.

‘It’s up to our society, up to our people to choose one or another leader,’ he told ABC News.

The Ukrainian president argued that the real source of rising energy prices was the Middle East war and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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