Social Media Erupts After U.S. Congratulates Russia on ‘Russia Day’
Outrage erupted across social media platforms today following a U.S. State Department statement by Secretary Marco Rubio congratulating Russia on its National Day. The message, issued at 5:30 a.m. CEST, came just 48 hours after a key Putin ally openly demanded NATO withdraw from the Baltic states—igniting a firestorm of backlash.
The statement, which wished “the Russian people well” and reaffirmed a U.S. commitment to “engagement,” was immediately met with disbelief and anger. Timelines on X filled with furious posts, anti-Trump commentary, and memes mocking the gesture as tone-deaf and complicit.
The backlash intensified after an interview published by Mint that same day, in which Czech President Petr Pavel publicly criticized U.S. leadership under President Trump.
“I am disappointed by the reluctance of Trump to show more strength and to clearly designate Russia as the aggressor and Ukraine as the victim,”
Pavel said—echoing growing frustration among European allies.
That frustration has only deepened. Despite early promises of consequences for Moscow, Trump has refused to implement sanctions against Russia. Instead, reports now indicate he is planning a summit in Moscow to discuss “business interests”—a move widely seen as appeasement. Meanwhile, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 has gathered 84 co-sponsors in Congress, though it remains stalled under Trump’s administration.
Critics also point to the broader context:
Ongoing Russian aggression in the Baltics, the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea, and recent undersea cable sabotage—all downplayed by Washington.
Against that backdrop, Rubio’s statement appeared dangerously disconnected from geopolitical reality.
Social media responded in kind. One viral post read:
“This is how betrayal from MAGA America looks like.”
“A joke right? While Russia bombs Ukrainian cities, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio congratulates Russians on “Russia Day” and says the U.S. remains committed to a “bright future” for the Russian people — and seeks “mutually beneficial relations” with the Kremlin.”
“On the day russia reaches 1 million dead & wounded troops in Ukraine, having imposed massive death, destruction & suffering on Ukrainians, Marco Rubio thought it appropriate to congratulate russia on “russia day” and how the US is committed to supporting the russian people”
“The statement from Rubio & the actions of the trump administration are a complete embarrassment to the
United States. It shows just how incompetent the administration just really is . Did they really think dealing with pootin would be easy ???”
Humanitarian concerns also resurfaced, as UN figures confirmed 1,348 civilian deaths in Mariupol, with unofficial estimates placing Russian-caused casualties as high as 88,000.
As Trump’s foreign policy signals drift further from U.S. allies and public sentiment, the Russia Day congratulations may be remembered less as a diplomatic courtesy—and more as a diplomatic blunder.
