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.