All Episodes
Previous Next
March 4, 2025 - Judging Freedom - Judge Andrew Napolitano
22:17
Prof. Gilbert Dowtorow :
| Copy link to current segment

Time Text
Hi everyone, Judge Andrew Napolitano here for Judging Freedom.
Today is Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.
Professor Gilbert Doctorow will be here with us in just a moment on Donald Trump outfoxes Europe.
But first this.
Markets are at an all-time high.
Euphoria has set in.
The economy seems unstoppable.
The last administration has buried us so deep in debt and deficits, it's going to take a lot of digging to get us out of this hole.
Are you prepared?
Lear Capital specializes in helping people like me and you grow and protect our wealth with gold.
Did you know that during Trump's last presidency, gold rose 54% to a record high?
If that happens again, that puts gold at $4,200 an ounce.
We're good to go.
I think it's a general pleasure that Donald Trump What
was the reaction in Europe?
I think we know from the comments of President Macron and Prime Minister Starmer, but from your visage in Brussels.
I have, in the past few weeks, been commenting on the unimaginable stupidity of the collection of people called the leaders of the EU, and in particular of Macron,
who steps out front.
And of Keir Starmer, who, though not a member of the EU, has stepped up to be the leader of Europe in defense.
But we have moved on from observations of people like myself from the sidelines, saying that the leadership in Europe is not living in the real world, but they're living in a bubble.
What we have now is the end game.
And they have created it for themselves.
Just note that Zelensky did himself in by directly challenging the President of the United States, Les Majestés.
This is something that no one can get away with.
That he came wearing his usual outfit didn't help.
But the Russians in particular pay a lot of attention to these nuances.
Whether or not Zelensky was satisfying propriety rules of Americans of the age and traditions of Donald Trump.
But let's move to the substantive issues.
What they have just done in Europe on Sunday, in the meeting with Starmer, was to repeat the disastrous mistake of Zelensky and to directly Do you think
that President Zelensky's behavior, so widely criticized and so nicely encapsulated by you just now, Was it intended for domestic Ukrainian audiences?
He couldn't possibly have thought that by picking a fight with Donald Trump, he was going to have a happy ending.
Well, surely there were some in his retinue who were pleased to see that their man had spunk and were standing up to the Americans.
Then there were other people with more brains, like the Ukrainian ambassador to Washington, who covered her face in shame and embarrassment that her boss He's behaving so stupidly and against the interests of his own country.
Now, what's happening in Europe is they've just done the same thing.
And in case we had doubts about it, today's news in the Financial Times and elsewhere informs us that Macron has taken the initiative threatening to seize the 200 billion dollars in Russian assets.
There are friends in Europe in case the ceasefire is violated by the Russians.
There are a couple of problems with this.
First, there is no ceasefire, and there will be no ceasefire.
Because again, Macron and Starmer are not listening.
They're talking, but not listening.
The plain news of coming from Moscow, no, there will be no ceasefire.
We want to go straight to peace settlement.
We don't want 30 days.
So, if he wants to protect Ukrainian interests by threatening to seize Russian assets, it's utterly foolish.
But I don't want to stand on foolishness, not foolishness.
What we're talking about is the likely end of American security guarantees to Europe.
These fools have, by insisting that they stand by Ukraine, Because it reinforces European security.
They are themselves, with their own hands, destroying their security by insulting, defying the President of the United States.
I mean, just last week, President Macron was talking about seizing the interest in bank accounts generated by these Russian deposits, an act of theft, of course.
Now you say he's talking about seizing the principal in the bank accounts, a greater act of theft, and is doing so shamelessly and unlawfully.
Of course it's unlawful.
It's theft.
Well, this, again, it's not my opinion.
I'm just repeating to you what was on the front page of today's Financial Times.
Right, right, right, right.
The logic of this is beyond imagination.
He is ready to upset the value of the dollar.
It is a threat to the dollar if they seize those answers.
How can he expect the Americans to go along with this?
He's living in a different world and he'll soon be out on the street.
I don't see, Judge, how any of these people can survive the destruction of European security that they are now bringing on their heads.
After President Zelensky left the White House, he flew to London, where he met with Sir Keir Starmer, with the king.
And then he stayed, and some European leaders, including President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany, were there.
And then at the end of that meeting, Sir Keir made a statement.
Chris, cut number one.
Our starting point must be to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now so that they can negotiate from a position of strength.
And we are doubling down in our support.
Yesterday evening, the UK signed a £2.2 billion loan to provide more military aid to Ukraine, backed not by the British taxpayer.
This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure now.
And strengthen Ukraine in securing the peace when it comes.
This is really hogwash, is it not?
I mean, if they were to make these missiles, they wouldn't be ready until 2030.
It's inconceivable the war will still be being fought then.
It was he who claimed, as well as President Macron, that they would seize the interest on the frozen Russian assets.
Take it from there, please, Professor.
How was that statement?
That's Sir Keir made, viewed by the Kremlin.
Well, again, I think with great amusement, because they're aware, as I just said, that these people are self-destructing.
If we heard, when you listen to what Keir Starmer is saying, he would be perfectly cast for a film about World War I. It was people like this, so utterly blind, who brought the whole world, brought Europe into its...
into its civil war that destroyed a whole generation of young people.
This is the type of fool.
But again, my opinion is not what is valuable.
I'm talking politics, not opinions.
In political terms, what he's saying is self-destruction because he's going directly against the president of the United States.
And what that means in America was demonstrated last Friday, I think it was, maybe it was Saturday morning, when Lindsey Graham, of all people, flip-flopped on support for Zelenskyy and for Ukraine in general because of Les Madras Day,
because this man, this little nobody from Ukraine, had dared to engage in a hot dispute with the President of the United States.
So I think that if, as is possible, President Trump this evening speaks of a disengagement from NATO.
This is the right moment to do it.
To strike when the iron is hot.
Because Americans, that is political strategy, will have certainly understood it as I did.
The Starmer and McCrone and Ursula von der Leyen, they're going up against the United States.
They're going up against...
The clear statements of the president said, you can't do that.
You cannot do that and survive.
Well, you are right that the rumors are rampant, that he will make headlines by announcing tonight our withdrawal when he addresses a joint session of Congress President Trump, of course, of whom I speak, announcing withdrawal from NATO.
We'll see.
But I can't help but playing this clip from Senator Graham, which we entitle, And now, Chris cut number eight.
I want to tell you and your people, you're the ally I've been hoping for all my life.
Not one American has died defending Ukraine.
You've taken our weapons and you've kicked their ass.
And I'm very proud to have you as our ally.
So, what I think, complete, utter disaster.
What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don't know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again.
He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.
Does anybody take him seriously in Europe?
No, of course not.
He's a laughingstock.
But what he's saying here is indicative of the kind of wave of patriotism and pride that Trump can ride if he indeed...
I make the announcement about withdrawal from NATO.
I'd just like to add one point here because many people speak about withdrawal from NATO as a case for isolationism.
I don't agree.
Trump has a different vision and unfortunately too many people who are married to their own past and to various verities from that past identify a commitment to the world.
As being through the establishments that have grown up over the last 70, 80 years.
Well, it doesn't have to be that way.
I think that we are about to witness a new Yalta, where there will be a meeting of the big three, Russia, China, and the United States, or four with India in it.
I think that's more likely.
And there will be a new global agreement on spheres of influence and how these powers get together.
I agree with everything you're saying, Professor.
I would add to it, it's a manifestation of realism, the honest recognition of the sovereignty of other countries and their legitimate security needs, rather than the neocon George Bush,
Victoria Nuland, going back to Woodrow Wilson.
We're going to make the world safe for tomorrow.
We have a live.
Okay. So I think that would be Donald Trump's dream to have another Yalta.
And I agree with you on the desirability of the presence of Prime Minister Modi.
Back to...
President Zelensky, if I might, do you think he fears for his life if he were to come out in favor of a ceasefire?
He does have that hard-right militia group embedded in his government, which foolishly believes that they can defeat the Russians militarily, does he not?
That's been a long-standing situation.
There are people going back a couple of years.
Who said there's people in his entourage, people who are the forces behind the throne, who are from the neo-Nazis or ultra-right nationalists, who were saying that if he should conclude a peace with Russia on less than 100 terms,
that he would be strung up.
But I think the situation has gotten worse for him.
Before he could say, okay, so he gets on a plane, he goes somewhere, where's he going now?
He's not going to be welcome.
I don't think that Starmer is going to be so keen on giving him a home.
He is now shown to be useless.
And his people will have a second reason for finishing him up.
But he no longer adds any value to that situation.
He can't provide arms.
The United States, because of his behavior in the White House, has just We have often speculated that the State Department would manipulate his departure and maneuver in a more rational,
more universally understood and acceptable replacement.
I think General Zellusioni's name...
Is often mentioned.
It brings to mind the fact that there's no inspector general on the ground in Ukraine, and that once the billions in cash and hundreds of billions in military equipment get there, there's no control as to what happens to it.
I mean, is there a universal belief in Europe that Zelensky is a wealthy man from...
Yes, once he loses the MI6 security detail, I don't think his life is worth two cents.
There are so many Ukrainians who have their own private reason for murdering him.
He has killed a million people, or remained a million of his compatriots.
Among that million, there are relatives who would like to see him.
In a coffin.
So I think he's got a serious security problem.
You are not the first person on this program to refer to his security detail as MI6.
We all know what that is.
British intelligence.
It is not Ukraine security?
No, he would have been dead a long time ago if it had been Ukrainian security.
That could have been infiltrated.
But the British...
I'm much more disappointed, and they provided him with excellent security.
He was at the White House on Friday.
MI6 was there with him.
Yeah, yes.
Yeah, so he's been very well cared for, but I think the game is up.
And as Donald Trump has demonstrated, people who are no longer the flavor of the day, they lose their security details.
Yeah, we know that.
What will happen to NATO if Trump pulls out?
Whether he announces it tonight, does it slowly, announces it in June, whatever.
What will remain of NATO?
Nothing. Nothing.
The question is, what will remain of those 19 leaders who met in London?
I don't see how they can stay in power, because by their very action, they have precipitated the destruction of NATO.
It didn't have to happen, or certainly not in this timeframe.
But by stupidly ignoring the words of the President of the United States and his commitment not to be dragged into the next world war by Europeans who are keen to continue the Ukraine war, this doesn't fly.
So these people, as I said, by their actions, they are jeopardizing European security.
And there are certainly people...
We will not tolerate this.
But going back to Ukraine and who will succeed Zelensky, I don't believe there will be a civilian government.
From the very beginning, the Russians anticipated that when they first marched, approached Kiev, they expected that the military in Ukraine would revolt against these extreme Italians who had the country by the neck.
And that the civilian government will be ousted.
I think we're coming back to that scenario.
You mentioned Zaluzhny.
Zaluzhny has just been dismissed by Zelensky as the ambassador in the UK for obvious reasons, because he certainly must be colluding with the Brits on replacing Zelensky with himself.
So he's just been demoted to some absolutely unimportant little ambassadorship in a UN sub-organisation.
But that's not the point.
Zelushny is no better than Zelensky.
He is one more person ready to continue the war to the last Ukrainian and then maybe to the last European.
He is not the answer.
So the answer will be a capitulation and a military juncture that takes over and holds on to power because the Ukrainians are not ready for a democratic election.
They've been so brainwashed.
In the last 18 years, 10 years, that they cannot yet see reality.
A profound statement and a gifted analysis with much gratitude.
Thank you for your time, Professor Doctor.
I will look forward to seeing you next week, my friend.
Good. Until then.
Thank you.
Until then.
Coming up at 10 o'clock this morning, Professor Jeffrey Sachs at 11 o'clock, Colonel Larry Wilkerson.
At noon, I don't know where he is, but he's coming to us.
Pepe Escobar.
At 1 o'clock, Professor Glenn Deason.
At 3 o'clock, Aaron Maté.
At 4 o'clock, Professor John Mearsheimer.
Justin Napolitano for Judging Freedom.
▲
Export Selection