California Rep. Ted Lieu revived claims about Russian influence after a journalist asked about Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. Lieu called the reported involvement “very, very scandalous” and demanded an explanation from President Trump and his son. He also tied the report to earlier allegations of Russian interference in U.S. elections.
The journalist cited a new ProPublica report about a Russian oligarch paying for Trump Jr.’s wedding. Asked for his reaction, Lieu said, “Democrats were right about Russian influence in America.”
He then claimed Donald Trump’s “first campaign manager colluded with the Russians” and shared campaign information with them. Separately, he referenced a Justice Department report and said Russia had systematically influenced U.S. elections.
From there, Lieu presented the wedding report as additional evidence of Russian influence around the Trump family. He described the situation as “very, very scandalous.” He ended by saying, “We need an explanation from the President and his son.”
Ted Lieu’s Don Jr. Russia Claims Draw Sharp Online Pushback
Lieu’s remarks reopened an old political fight, with critics challenging his evidence and accusing Democrats of returning to familiar Russia allegations.
“Russia! Russia! Russia! recycling the same old tired talking point 12 years lmao,” one user wrote. Another demanded evidence more directly: “You have proof? Then show it to us (U.S.).”
A separate response challenged Lieu’s framing of Russian interference. “@tedlieu you didn’t discover Russian influence. You discovered a useful villain,” the user wrote. Another turned the criticism toward Democrats’ treatment of the Biden family: “Where was all this fire and brimstone when daddy Biden was making sure Hunter was catching the backend from all those Ukrainian and Chinese dealings?”
Others took Lieu’s concerns more seriously. “The Russians funding Don Jr’s wedding is the least surprising news I’ve ever heard,” one response stated. Another simply wrote, “STANDING OVATION FOR TED LIEU!”
Lieu called for an explanation from Trump and his son. Neither responded in the exchange.
