On a day when Americans proudly celebrate the freedoms and values that define our nation, troubling news emerges from Europe, underscoring why America First policies remain critical to global order and national security. Dutch intelligence officials have confirmed disturbing reports that Russia, under Vladimir Putin’s ruthless regime, is deploying banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers—an egregious violation of international law and a stark reminder of the barbarism our adversaries are willing to employ.
According to Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and Major General Jan Swillens, chief of the Netherlands’ military intelligence, Russian forces have been using drones to deliver choking agents designed explicitly to flush Ukrainian troops from trenches and fortified positions. Once exposed and vulnerable, these soldiers become easy targets for Russian gunfire—a chilling strategy reminiscent of dark chapters in world history, when tyrants and despots ignored human decency to advance their brutal agendas.
This revelation should not surprise conservative Americans who’ve watched Putin flout international norms for years. It’s further evidence that global stability cannot be guaranteed by empty diplomatic gestures or toothless sanctions. Weakness invites aggression; strength deters it. President Trump understood this fundamental truth better than any recent American leader. Under Trump, our adversaries knew the United States would not tolerate such atrocities, and our allies felt safer knowing America was committed to strength and leadership on the world stage.
Yet, we’ve seen the disastrous consequences wrought by Biden-era appeasement policies that emboldened Russia and other authoritarian regimes worldwide. Putin’s willingness to unleash chemical weapons in Ukraine today directly results from the Biden administration’s feckless posture on foreign policy that projected weakness, incompetence, and indecision from 2021 through 2024.
Dutch intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. These reports include deploying a choking agent from drones to force soldiers out of trenches, making them vulnerable to gunfire. This revelation comes from the Dutch defense minister and chief of military intelligence.
Now, with President Trump back in the Oval Office, America must reassert itself as a decisive force for good. We must respond clearly and firmly to Russia’s criminal tactics. The international community must see American leadership not only as powerful but morally resolute. Chemical warfare cannot become normalized in our lifetime. The principle of deterrence must be reinvigorated, and those responsible for these crimes must face serious consequences.
But let us remember, America First also means refusing to entangle ourselves in endless foreign conflicts. Trump’s vision for America involves targeted, decisive actions that protect our national interests without sacrificing American lives in unnecessary wars. We must continue to support Ukraine through strategic assistance, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic leadership. But we should not be lured into yet another protracted foreign conflict that drains our resources and distracts from pressing issues at home—like securing our southern border, reviving American manufacturing, and reforming education to eliminate woke indoctrination from our classrooms.
This is a moment for moral clarity and strategic resolve. The Dutch disclosures confirm what conservatives have warned about for years: authoritarian regimes like Russia will exploit perceived weakness. Yet, under Trump’s renewed leadership, America can offer the bold, principled response the world desperately needs. Our nation must lead not through empty rhetoric or hollow diplomatic gestures, but through strength, conviction, and unwavering commitment to freedom and human dignity.
On this Fourth of July, as we celebrate our independence, let’s recommit ourselves to the ideals that made America great. Let’s stand strong against the evil acts perpetrated by Russia and other hostile regimes. And let’s ensure our nation remains a beacon of liberty, strength, and resolute leadership in a world increasingly threatened by tyranny and aggression.
