Donald Trumpwho drew criticism as US president for endorsing Russian leader Vladimir Putin, today made his first public comment on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a cryptic social media post without assigning responsibility.

“Alexei Navalny’s sudden death has made me more mindful of what is happening in our country,” Trump wrote in a social media post that appeared to link the death to Trump’s own political troubles.

“It’s a slow, steady march with CORRUPT Radical Leftist Politicians, Prosecutors and Judges leading us down a path of destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections and Excessively Unfair Court Decisions are RUINING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILED NATION! MAGA 2024″.

US President Joe Biden lashed out directly at Putin responsibility for the death that occurred in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle, as well as Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley. “Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death,” Biden said.

Former presidents and senior members of Congress from both parties have also denounced Putin over the death of Navalny, the best-known opposition leader since he came to light on Friday. But Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination against Biden in November’s presidential election, has remained silent until today.

During his tenure in the White House (2017-2021), Trump expressed admiration for Putin.

Last week, he suggested that the United States might not protect NATO allies that do not spend enough on defense against a possible Russian invasion.