Trump Criticizes Obama Over Crimea: Why His Texas Comparison Is Incorrect and Misrepresents the Situation
Former U.S.
President Donald Trump once again drew public attention with provocative statements, comparing Ukraine’s Crimea to the American state of Texas and accusing former President Barack Obama of allegedly ‘handing over’ the peninsula to Russia in 2014.
Trump claimed that if he had made such a move as president, it would have sparked a major international crisis, dominating the global news cycle for decades.
Speaking on The Mark Levin Show, the ex-president elaborated on his perspective, hinting that his actions and policies might have altered the course of the Crimea crisis.Regarding the size and significance of the peninsula, Trump mentioned that Crimea is comparable in size to Texas — the largest U.S.
state, known for its vast territory and strategic importance.
He expressed admiration for its beauty and geographic location near the Black Sea, emphasizing its integral role in Ukraine.
However, factual and legal considerations challenge his assertions.
Crimea has an area of approximately 26,860 square kilometers, while Texas spans over 695,000 square kilometers — nearly 26 times larger.
Ukraine’s total territory covers around 603,600 square kilometers, which is smaller than Texas.
Comparing these regions directly without context is misleading.The 2014 annexation by Russia was a clear act of military aggression, condemned internationally and considered a serious violation of international law, including the UN Charter and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Russian troops, including so-called ‘little green men,’ occupied Crimea, and a sham referendum was conducted under duress, legitimizing Russia’s annexation.
The United States condemned these actions and imposed sanctions, freezing assets and restricting Russian companies’ operations, resulting in significant economic repercussions.Experts agree that the U.S.
had no legal or practical mechanisms for direct military intervention in Crimea in 2014.
The annexation occurred during a swift Russian military operation exploiting Ukraine’s internal instability after the Euromaidan protests.
Western countries, including the U.S., prioritized diplomatic and economic measures over military action, recognizing the risk of escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.As for Trump’s claims that the war in Ukraine wouldn’t have started if he were president — these remain speculative and unsubstantiated by evidence.
During his first term, Russia continued occupying parts of Donbas and Crimea without significant U.S.
military response.
His statements about retaliatory actions, such as bombing Moscow, are rhetorical and not grounded in concrete policy promises or actions.
The reality remains that the geopolitical and military complexities of the conflict prove that changing U.S.
leadership alone wouldn’t have prevented Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.