Washington, D.C. – Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized former President Trump on Monday for his response to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Navalny died Friday in a Russian penal colony, in what has been widely condemned as a likely political assassination. Pelosi condemned Trump’s comments, stating that they were “beneath the dignity of a human being.”

Trump’s initial remarks on Navalny’s death compared it to his own legal circumstances and did not attribute blame to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in contrast to President Biden and U.S. allies. Pelosi expressed her dismay at Trump’s statement, stating that it should disqualify him from running for any political office, especially the presidency.

President Biden quickly pinned Navalny’s death on Putin and used the opportunity to call for military aid for Ukraine. He emphasized that Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death and urged for funding to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. However, Ukraine aid is currently stalled in the House, with House Republican leaders linking its passage to action on the Southern border.

Pelosi also criticized the House GOP leadership for delaying Ukraine aid and emphasized the urgency of providing support to Ukraine against Russian invasion. She highlighted the potential consequences of inaction, warning that other countries could be at risk if Russia is allowed to succeed in Ukraine. Overall, the political discourse surrounding Navalny’s death has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, as well as the complexities of foreign policy decision-making.