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# ![@McFaul Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:26/cr:twitter::454099919.png) @McFaul Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul posts on X about russia, ukraine, china, national security the most. They currently have XXXXXXX followers and XXX posts still getting attention that total XXXXXXX engagements in the last XX hours.

### Engagements: XXXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::454099919/interactions)
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- X Month XXXXXXXXXX +115%
- X Months XXXXXXXXXXX -XX%
- X Year XXXXXXXXXXX -XXXX%

### Mentions: XX [#](/creator/twitter::454099919/posts_active)
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- X Months XXXXX +4.60%
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### Followers: XXXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::454099919/followers)
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- X Week XXXXXXX +0.03%
- X Month XXXXXXX -XXXX%
- X Months XXXXXXX +0.19%
- X Year XXXXXXX +2.50%

### CreatorRank: XXXXXX [#](/creator/twitter::454099919/influencer_rank)
![CreatorRank Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/cr:twitter::454099919/c:line/m:influencer_rank.svg)

### Social Influence

**Social category influence**
[countries](/list/countries)  #6550 [travel destinations](/list/travel-destinations)  XXXX% [finance](/list/finance)  XXXX% [ncaa football](/list/ncaa-football)  XXXX% [social networks](/list/social-networks)  XXXX% [technology brands](/list/technology-brands)  XXXX%

**Social topic influence**
[russia](/topic/russia) #275, [ukraine](/topic/ukraine) #617, [china](/topic/china) #1534, [national security](/topic/national-security) #33, [the world](/topic/the-world) 3.57%, [kremlin](/topic/kremlin) #195, [american people](/topic/american-people) #23, [future](/topic/future) 1.79%, [books](/topic/books) 1.79%, [moscow](/topic/moscow) XXXX%

**Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by**
[@andrisg15](/creator/undefined) [@stevemcmichael7](/creator/undefined) [@malafunkshun808](/creator/undefined) [@susanlynch22](/creator/undefined) [@commngroundtoo](/creator/undefined) [@grok](/creator/undefined) [@wsupullman](/creator/undefined) [@barrypruett](/creator/undefined) [@unbranded63](/creator/undefined) [@batchelorshow](/creator/undefined) [@brantfrey](/creator/undefined) [@yougotittoyota](/creator/undefined) [@mbonce161](/creator/undefined) [@opstcyprian](/creator/undefined) [@roro_rra](/creator/undefined) [@jukkaisorinne](/creator/undefined) [@lakerpatrick](/creator/undefined) [@22bellaciao](/creator/undefined) [@ffawcette](/creator/undefined) [@4the1nthesky](/creator/undefined)
### Top Social Posts
Top posts by engagements in the last XX hours

"Why has Trump suddenly sided again with Putin Forcing Ukraine to accept this horrible deal does not serve US interests. It makes our country look weak. It makes it look like we dont understand the difference between aggressor and victim democrats vs autocrats or good vs evil"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1992030027047973253)  2025-11-22T00:39Z 876.6K followers, 498.6K engagements


"Andrew Luck is fired up #GoStanford"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1992436607698477459)  2025-11-23T03:34Z 876.6K followers, 18.2K engagements


"If NATO expansion was what Putin was trying to stop in Ukraine why didn't he invade Finland and Sweden before they joined NATO (Look at a map-- it's a very long border between Finland and Russia)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1992795120681554227)  2025-11-24T03:19Z 876.6K followers, 61K engagements


"Putin fears democracy consolidating in Ukraine because it shows a different future is possible for the Russian people too. A free democratic Ukraine exposes the lie at the heart of his worldview. From my conversation with @batchelorshow"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995999367048864126)  2025-12-02T23:31Z 876.6K followers, 79.5K engagements


"Strong allies proved essential in our victory in the Cold War. They will be equally essential in helping American prevail in this new era of great power competition with China and Russia in the 21st century. That the Trump administration does not seem to understand this basic fact is deeply disturbing"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997048809164296198)  2025-12-05T21:01Z 876.6K followers, 33.6K engagements


"The bald hypocrisy of the Trump administration shouting about free speech violations in democratic Europe without saying so word about massive violations of free speech in autocratic Russia (or Belarus) is striking and tragic"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997364358146322777)  2025-12-06T17:55Z 876.6K followers, 37.9K engagements


"For professors teaching international relations these two books go well together when discussing great power competition. At least theyve worked well in my classes"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997476438480760972)  2025-12-07T01:21Z 876.6K followers, 13.6K engagements


"".instead of trying to change Putins mind the Trump Administration should focus on changing his capabilities.""  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997914301802381675)  2025-12-08T06:21Z 876.6K followers, 12.8K engagements


"If Trump & his team are genuinely committed to ending the war on terms that would create permissive conditions for a prosperous secure and independent Ukraine they need a Plan B because Plan A hasn't worked. My latest"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998057493453299836)  2025-12-08T15:50Z 876.6K followers, 32.9K engagements


"Trump's new National Security Strategy doesn't seem to think we are in a new era of great power competition. That analysis is wrong. We are. I wrote a whole book about it: Autocrats vs. Democrats: China Russia America and the New Global Disorder"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998094045961453852)  2025-12-08T18:15Z 876.6K followers, 9363 engagements


"You and your government are "Team War." Putin invaded Ukraine and escalated this horrific war. Ukraine and NATO never attacked Russia and never will"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998478417470390712)  2025-12-09T19:42Z 876.6K followers, 128.2K engagements


"Im a huge fan of both these guys"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999414340072669648)  2025-12-12T09:41Z 876.6K followers, 56K engagements


"Advice for Witkoff and Kushner before you meet with the Russian imperialist dictator today. I applaud your efforts to negotiate with him. I hope you obtain concessions that advance US interests. But don't treat Putin as your "friend." Putin is a bad guy. & he most certainly does not think of you as friends"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995771185926471709)  2025-12-02T08:25Z 876.6K followers, 41.3K engagements


"Trump Needs a New Ukraine Strategy by @McFaul"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998475439833231612)  2025-12-09T19:30Z 876.6K followers, 14.1K engagements


"Whataboutism is my least favorite take on this platform. Imagine if as a defense for a Warriors loss today Steph Curry said 'Well what about when the Warriors lost in 2008" Something stupid that happened XX years ago does not excuse something stupid today. & X wrong don't make a right"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995772323388080635)  2025-12-02T08:29Z 876.6K followers, 15.5K engagements


"I hope everyone appreciates the bald hypocrisy of Russian government officials tweeting on the platform about censorship in Europe when @X is banned inside Russia. Just amazing. They have no shame at all"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997564866509631523)  2025-12-07T07:12Z 876.6K followers, 798.9K engagements


"Trump's anti-NATO and anti-EU views are not popular with the American people. His embrace of Putin is also extremely unpopular. On these issues he is out of touch with American voters"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999531896888524832)  2025-12-12T17:28Z 876.6K followers, 61.4K engagements


"Ive been in the room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians Russians with accents. His real fear isnt NATO expansion its democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom Russians may demand the same. Clip from this weekend's talk with @AVindman at the 2025 @TexasTribune Festival"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1991950441475961315)  2025-11-21T19:22Z 876.6K followers, 967.6K engagements


"Trump has never demonstrated any interest in promoting democracy anywhere. So why do some now believe he wants to promote democracy in Venezuela through the use of military force Im genuinely confused. Help me understand"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995325010295341520)  2025-12-01T02:52Z 876.6K followers, 75.8K engagements


"There you have it:"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1996138162654257653)  2025-12-03T08:43Z 876.6K followers, 25.2K engagements


"During the latest USRussia talks the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund joined Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin. Their presence at the talks underscores how Moscow is leveraging business channels to draw the Trump administration toward its position as I told @TheWorld:"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1996332417271926966)  2025-12-03T21:35Z 876.6K followers, 269.2K engagements


"Are we in a new Cold War I explored this and other insights from my new book Autocrats vs. Democrats with @NextBigIdeaClub"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997012079296020552)  2025-12-05T18:35Z 876.6K followers, 15.5K engagements


"Americas strength isnt rooted in power alone but in our allies across Europe and around the world. Weakening those ties weakens us. In a world of rising authoritarianism partnerships remain one of our greatest strategic advantages"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997393566277009610)  2025-12-06T19:51Z 876.6K followers, 68.7K engagements


"To the claim that I'm an old-school liberal internationalist guilty as charged. My way of thinking about the world also went out of favor in the 1930s and 1970s. And then came back. Before you declare liberal internationalism dead forever study history"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998095787298021867)  2025-12-08T18:22Z 876.6K followers, 30.5K engagements


"Trumps National Security Strategy in 2025 is radically different from Trumps National Security Strategy in 2015. What changed The world Trump Or the staffs who drafted the X documents Whats your view"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997856040839483447)  2025-12-08T02:29Z 876.6K followers, 45.2K engagements


"OUT TODAY My new book Autocrats vs. Democrats looks at the challenges posed by autocratic Russia and China and explains how/why the U.S. must lead the democratic world in response. Available in stores or online: @HooverInst @FSIStanford @MarinerBooks @HarperCollins"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1983157668236673443)  2025-10-28T13:03Z 876.6K followers, 602.4K engagements


"@kisslove Why should Russians want to travel to enemy lands"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1986180697921671276)  2025-11-05T21:15Z 876.6K followers, 807.2K engagements


"Heres my plan: Russian soldiers go home. They leave Ukraine Georgia and Moldova. Russia honors the many international treaties they have signed to recognize the sovereignty of their neighbors. Russia stops making long-range missiles and caps its army at 500000. For the first time in X decades Russia holds free and fair elections. Ukraine agrees to respect the territorial integrity of the Russian empire and will not push for independence of Russian republics"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1993438662693118456)  2025-11-25T21:56Z 876.6K followers, 1.2M engagements


"When I worked for Obama I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times)"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1993477807184527826)  2025-11-26T00:32Z 876.6K followers, 2.7M engagements


"Maduro is an illegitimate leader. He lost the last election. He needs to go"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1994838654678900847)  2025-11-29T18:39Z 876.6K followers, 1.7M engagements


"I radically disagree"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995234942964609307)  2025-11-30T20:54Z 876.6K followers, 233.9K engagements


"Can someone explain to me why Special Envoy Witkoff and the presidents son-in-law participate in negotiations with both the Ukrainians and Russians but our Secretary of State only talks to the Ukrainians and is not leading the delegation to talk to Putin I dont get it"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1995557737166766510)  2025-12-01T18:16Z 876.6K followers, 602.6K engagements


"I used to think of Americans as a people who supported self defense. I think I still do. But it is shocking how many people on this platform (& I dont know of they are actually Americans or Russians pretending to be them) want to disarm Ukrainians so more of them can be slaughtered with greater ease by Putin"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1996581523689210241)  2025-12-04T14:05Z 876.6K followers, 43.1K engagements


"Trump is out of step with the American people on Ukraine & Russia"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997119289678352652)  2025-12-06T01:41Z 876.6K followers, 206K engagements


"The only time Article X of the NATO Treaty was invoked was to defend us not for us to defend Europe. European soldiers and civilians died fighting with us and working next to us in Afghanistan. Europe was not attacked on September XX 2001"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997347836795752597)  2025-12-06T16:50Z 876.6K followers, 407.9K engagements


"Trump and his aides may not value our NATO allies. But I do. So do millions of Americans. On this issue the Trump team is out of step with the American people"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997362042064306416)  2025-12-06T17:46Z 876.6K followers, 141.5K engagements


"American critics of European democratic shortcomings would have more credibility if they also criticized democratic shortcomings in the US and autocratic repression in Russia China and Saudi Arabia. Otherwise they just sound like businessmen trying to make money"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997377885787783263)  2025-12-06T18:49Z 876.6K followers, 41K engagements


"I genuinely do not understand how CEOs of American social media companies and their supporters can express so much passion about free speech infringements in Europe but not say a word about censorship in Russia where many of their companies are banned. Some say its all about money but these companies arent making any money in Russia. Is it just loyalty to Trump Admiration of autocracy What are your theories I honestly dont get it"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997563503859638435)  2025-12-07T07:07Z 876.6K followers, 322.8K engagements


"At a moment in American politics in which Trump has very low approval ratings Democrats are winning elections many predict a blue wave in 2026 & a Democratic president in 2028 and a solid majority of Americans support NATO it would be imprudent to get too fatalistic about the death of Transatlantic relations because of an incoherent National Security Strategy written by a small group in the Trump administration. Play the long game"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997577473656045858)  2025-12-07T08:02Z 876.6K followers, 135.1K engagements


"The new Trump National Security Strategy grossly underestimates the threats to American interests from autocratic China and Russia"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997877555731525705)  2025-12-08T03:55Z 876.6K followers, 43K engagements


"Promoting democracy freedom and liberty around the world was the signature aspiration of President Ronald Reagan. When it comes to foreign policy Trump's new National Security Strategy marks a complete abandonment of Reagan's Republican Party"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1997911919769096587)  2025-12-08T06:11Z 876.6K followers, 24.1K engagements


"All presidents have put America first. The variation comes in how they have sought to achieve that objective"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998268522691174636)  2025-12-09T05:48Z 876.6K followers, 24.6K engagements


"I wish our president could be just a little more dignified and respectful of other Americans"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998554257797296408)  2025-12-10T00:44Z 876.6K followers, 92.6K engagements


"This framing by Trump is both wrong and insulting. Zelenskyy is not "using the war" to stay in power. Zelenskyy more than anyone wants to end the killing of his people"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998796381612540045)  2025-12-10T16:46Z 876.6K followers, 101.1K engagements


"Trump's National Security Strategy identifies many laudable (if also obvious) goals. But its assessment of threats and strategies for addressing them are misguided. First the "Western Hemisphere" is not the main threat to U.S. national security. China and Russia are. This misdiagnosis is a strategic mistake. Second to deal with China and Russia the US needs allies including in Europe. Berating our democratic allies in Europe -- accusing them of eroding democracy when we are leading in that race -- does not advance U.S. security interests. Strategic mistake. Third in our new era of great power"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998799858778649079)  2025-12-10T16:59Z 876.6K followers, 15.2K engagements


"To those calling for the need to abolish the EU to save "Western civilization" strengthen the sovereignty of European nation-states and restore "Europe's civilizational self-confidence" why don't you ever call for the same regarding the Russian Empire Let the occupied parts of Moldova Georgia and Ukraine finally be free. Let the rest of Europe not be threatened by this anti-Western imperial dictatorship. Let the republics inside the Russia Federation/Empire have true sovereignty. The EU stifles sovereignty but the Russian Empire does not Please help me understand your rationale for this"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998807948555072004)  2025-12-10T17:32Z 876.6K followers, 55.2K engagements


"The Trump administration will not provide a single weapon directly to Ukraine today but somehow Ukrainians are supposed to believe that Trump would go to war with Russia if Putin invaded their country again That's what an "Article-5 like" security guarantee means"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1998840113816543687)  2025-12-10T19:39Z 876.6K followers, 101.8K engagements


"This is a great question"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999144236277772624)  2025-12-11T15:48Z 876.6K followers, 84.4K engagements


"For gifts this holiday season please consider buying books especially well-researched non-fiction books. Because if you don't buy them they won't get published in the future. Not everything worth knowing can be found in a tweet or a ChatGPT search"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999161333674324019)  2025-12-11T16:56Z 876.6K followers, 44.4K engagements


"Maduro stole the election. He is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He should be forced to step aside. Military invasion however is not the right instrument for achieving that goal. We should learn from our past attempts at using military force to bring about democracy. We are X for XX. I discuss at length in this book:"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999196189829530029)  2025-12-11T19:14Z 876.6K followers, 8280 engagements


"Progress. Our democracy has been bent but has not broken"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999221894630015314)  2025-12-11T20:56Z 876.6K followers, 38K engagements


"If true very disturbing"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999253100880974226)  2025-12-11T23:00Z 876.6K followers, 227K engagements


"Checks and balances in action I love watching our democratic institutions function like they are supposed to as codified in our Constitution"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999257110316753267)  2025-12-11T23:16Z 876.6K followers, 34.7K engagements


"The U.S. interests are advanced with a stronger Europe. The EU makes Europe stronger. The UK became weaker after withdrawing from the EU. Calling for the destruction of the EU therefore serves no U.S. national interest"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999632971847156104)  2025-12-13T00:10Z 876.6K followers, 31.7K engagements


"Why do those who berate the EU for usurping sovereignty never make the same argument about the Russian Empire"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999633264684990511)  2025-12-13T00:11Z 876.6K followers, 20.4K engagements


"Why doesnt Trump want to be on Zelenskyys side I thought he likes winners Why does he embrace Putin In the tragic battle between good and evil between hero and villain our president is siding with the evil villain"  
[X Link](https://x.com/McFaul/status/1999731022444003674)  2025-12-13T06:40Z 876.6K followers, 57.8K engagements