Ukrainian GOP NYC councilwoman praises Trump for support of Ukraine and Israel

A Ukrainian-born member of New York City’s city council who recently called Vladimir Putin a “terrorist” revealed she met with former President Donald Trump on Sunday, reports the New York Post.

Republican councilwoman Inna Vernikov, 37, posted a picture of herself with Trump on her Twitter, saying he had expressed his solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.

“Grateful to have met with President Trump. He commended me for flipping my seat from Democrat to Republican & we discussed the need to bring back our beloved NYC,” wrote Vernikov, who is one of the city council’s five GOP members of 51 total. “He expressed his solidarity with the people of Ukraine & sent prayers and love for my constituents from Ukraine.”

Grateful to have met with President Trump. He commended me for flipping my seat from Democrat to Republican & we discussed the need to bring back our beloved NYC. He expressed his solidarity with the people of Ukraine & sent prayers and love for my constituents from Ukraine. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/eMMMb7iXzu

— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) March 20, 2022

The self-described “Ukrainian-born American Jew” also praised the former president’s foreign policy. She went to law school and had her own law practice for eight years, deciding to run for office in response to rising crime and antisemitism in her city.

“I thanked him for all he has done for our country and the peace he brought to the Middle East with the Abraham Accords and by exiting the disastrous Iran Deal,” Vernikov wrote in a second tweet. “I look forward to a continued relationship with the unparalleled 45th president of the United States.”

Vernikov was raised in Chernivstsi, Ukraine, immigrated to the U.S. when she was 12 years old. She recently spoke at the New York State GOP convention, where she told attendees that Putin has “lost his mind” and wants to “destroy Democracy,” reports the Post.

“What a dark, dark moment in our history. The people in Ukraine are suffering at the hands of a terrorist. And growing up in the region, I know that President Putin has always been a tyrant, but now he has officially lost his mind,” Verikov told the audience on Mar. 1. “I think that all this is about is more power. I think he wants to destroy democracy. And I think he wants to bring the Soviet Union back.”

The Brooklyn councilwoman also told attendees that her success in a formerly Democratic seat should be an encouraging sign for other Republicans in the state.

“Almost nobody thought I could win but I felt the room and I knew — I knew the people were angry with the Democratic Party, I know that people were angry with the policies that led to crime, dirty streets and a shift toward socialism,” Vernikov said.

“My victory should send a very loud and clear message to Republicans all over this state: As President Barack Obama used to say: Yes we can. We can and we will win.”