Former President Donald Trump mentioned in a Washington Publish interview printed Thursday that he felt Russian President Vladimir Putin "overplayed his hand" by invading Ukraine.

This sentiment that Putin maybe overreached in his invasion of Ukraine represents a change for Trump, who up to now, has praised the Russian chief. Trump referred to as Putin's technique for the Ukraine invasion "genius," a remark that he blamed the media for misreporting after receiving important pushback.

In an interview in late February, after Putin acknowledged two breakaway areas of Ukraine—Donetsk and Luhansk— as impartial, and the Russian president introduced he was sending troops to the realm for a "peacekeeping" mission, Trump mentioned: "Here is a man that claims, you realize, 'I am gonna declare a giant portion of Ukraine impartial.' He used the phrase 'impartial,' 'and we're gonna exit and we're gonna go in and we're gonna assist maintain peace.' You gotta say that is fairly savvy."

Trump has acquired criticism over his reward of Putin, and in an announcement final week he addressed his earlier feedback.

"The Pretend Information can also be saying I referred to as Putin a 'genius,' when really, and to be exact, I referred to as his build-up on the Ukraine Border earlier than the warfare began genius as a result of I assumed he could be simply in a position to negotiate an ideal deal for Russia," the previous president wrote.

Within the wide-ranging interview printed within the Washington Publish Thursday morning, Trump additionally spoke in regards to the march on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and mentioned he had needed to affix his supporters that day.

Trump Says Putin 'Overplayed His Hand'
Former President Donald Trump mentioned Thursday that Vladimir Putin "overplayed his hand" by invading Ukraine. Above, Trump at a rally on April 2, close to Washington, Michigan. Scott Olson

"[The] Secret Service mentioned I could not go. I'd have gone there in a minute," Trump mentioned within the interview.

He additionally bragged in regards to the crowd measurement in Washington. "The gang was far greater than I even thought. I imagine it was the biggest crowd I've ever spoken to. I do not know what which means, however you see only a few photos. They do not wish to present photos, the faux information would not wish to present photos," Trump informed the Publish.

Trump additionally mentioned that he "hated seeing" the riot that occurred on the Capitol that day, and mentioned that on the time, he "assumed" different the mayor of Washington D.C. and Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been "taking good care of it."

"I believed it was a disgrace, and I stored asking why is not she doing one thing about it? Why is not Nancy Pelosi doing one thing about it? And the mayor of D.C. additionally. The mayor of D.C. and Nancy Pelosi are in cost," the previous president mentioned.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, informed the Washington Publish: "The previous president's determined lies apart, the speaker was no extra answerable for the safety of the U.S. Capitol that day than Mitch McConnell."

Newsweek reached out to Trump's workplace for additional remark, however didn't obtain a response earlier than publication on Thursday morning.