Former US President Donald Trump has been criticised for calling on the Russian President to release dirt on President Joe Biden's youngest son, amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with Real America's Voice, Trump accused Hunter Biden of allegedly doing business dealings in Russia, asking President Vladimir Putin to release any information on Hunter to the public.
"I would think Putin would know the answer to that," Trump told the outlet. "I think he should release it, I think we should know that answer."
Putin is currently leading a war against Ukraine, where thousands of civilians have been killed and millions of Ukrainians have had to flee their country.
People are outraged that Trump would ask Putin, who has recently been accused of committing war crimes, for a 'favour' while Russia attacks Ukraine.
"Putin did this and Trump is asking him for a favor," one person wrote.
"I'll give Trump credit for consistency," US Representative Adam Schiff tweeted. "Even now, he’s asking Putin for political help. Despite being impeached for seeking foreign help in an election. Despite the fact that Putin is killing Ukrainian civilians."
"Trump is consistent. Consistently selfish — and unpatriotic."
Many people on social media are calling Trump a traitor, with #TrumpTraitor circulating.
"The fact that Trump tried to get Putin to release something on Biden while they are trying to decimate an ally of ours says all you need to know," one person tweeted.
In the interview, Trump claimed Hunter's company received $3.5 million (USD) from Elena Baturina, the widow of Moscow's former mayor. This is a claim that Trump often brought up during the 2020 election.
"Why did the mayor of Moscow's wife give the Bidens, both of them, $3.5 million? That's a lot of money," Trump said in the interview.
Robert Hunter Biden, who goes by Hunter, is a US attorney that became the centre of a campaign by Trump during the 2020 election after Trump ordered an investigation into Hunter's million-dollar business dealings with Ukraine and China. However, no criminal activity was proven.
Experts are criticising Trump's claims, saying he is bringing up allegations at a convenient time for maximum "shock value".
"Trump is doing what Trump does best," a political expert told Newsweek. "[By] trolling the media, cozying up to authoritarians."
Trump has called on Russia to help find dirt on political opponents before. In 2016, he asked Russia to try to find 30,000 emails associated with rival Hilary Clinton.
