Controversial US Congressman calls Zelensky a ‘woke’ ‘thug’

North Carolina’s Madison Cawthorn later backtracks after comments cause outrage, condemns Putin and says he is praying for Ukraine

By Ron Kampeas 11 March 2022, 8:49 am

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In this image from video, US Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-NC, speaks as the House debates the objection to confirm the Electoral College vote from Pennsylvania, at the US Capitol early Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (House Television via AP)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Madison Cawthorn, the North Carolina Republican congressman with a knack for controversy, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “thug” whose government pushes “woke” ideologies.

“Remember that Zelensky is a thug,” Cawthorn said in a video posted Thursday by WRAL, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh. “Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies.”

It’s not clear whom Cawthorn is addressing in the snippet of video, or where he is speaking. Its release prompted outrage from Republicans planning to primary Cawthorn. Ukraine’s Jewish president has earned cross-partisan plaudits for standing up to Russia in its war against his country, even as Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his goal is “denazification” of Ukraine.

Cawthorn then backtracked, calling Putin’s actions “disgusting” and saying that “I am praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” He sent WRAL a link to a conservative blog post purporting to expose Ukrainian disinformation.

Cawthorn, who is identified with the Republican Party’s far-right, met a year ago with a delegation of Jews from his district after a number of controversies, including vacation photos posted from Adolf Hitler’s home.