Elizabeth Graham, an authority on the Trump-Putin relationship, has issued a stark warning about Russia's influence over U.S. elections and democracy. Her articles have reached 11.7 million readers worldwide, and she writes a popular Substack on democracy, Russia, and U.S. politics. Graham's unique perspective stems from her years living and working in Russia and other strategic cities, where she witnessed firsthand the KGB/FSB's covert ascent and Vladimir Putin's rise to power.
Graham argues that the U.S. is currently fighting the same foe as Ukraine, but in a different way. While Ukraine faces an open and aggressive war, the U.S. is enduring a long-term, strategic, surreptitious takeover designed to fulfill Putin's Cold War revenge. She points to a plan published in 1997 as The Foundations of Geopolitics, which outlines strategies to undermine the U.S. from the top down by placing a manipulable man in the presidency, and from the bottom up by infiltrating the country with Russian Organized Crime.
According to Graham, Putin's influence over Trump has become increasingly apparent. She cites the U.S. stopping support for Ukraine, the war in Iran benefiting China and Russia, the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from multiple regions as moves that serve Putin's interests. The fracture of NATO and the shutdown of USAID are also highlighted. Graham notes that USAID's closure could cause approximately 22 million preventable deaths in Africa by 2030, a consequence she describes as placing Trump among history's most ruthless mass killers.
Graham emphasizes that many Americans overlook the gravity of the situation, distracted by Trump's sensationalism and tariffs. She asserts that Trump is committing treason and that Russia wants him in the White House because he is weakening democracy, dismantling government, and alienating allies. She points to the closure of roughly 300 bank accounts linked to Trump's businesses by Capital One due to an internal anti-money laundering review, suggesting a money trail leading to Russia.
Graham's concern is urgent: without intervention in 2026, America may hold its last free election in November 2026. She calls for attention to the declassified FBI communications and the ongoing attempts to cover up relationships with Russians. Her experience, including being invited to join the KGB multiple times, gives her a unique insight into the threat she describes.
