U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) rebuffed the attention of Russian dissenter and former chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov on Monday on social media. The move surprised many, as both men are vocal Putin antagonists and strong supporters of Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
After President Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. doesn’t need to work with NATO allies in Ukraine — and after many NATO countries rejected Trump’s demand that they send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz — Bacon wrote: “It is smart to strengthen alliances not undermine and discredit them.”
The Congressman shared the Churchill quote: “There’s only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that’s fighting without them.”
Trump said the US is not obligated to help Ukraine, arguing that the country is thousands of miles away and across the ocean, and therefore America does not have to be involved. He also claimed that former Biden had been sidelined in decisions regarding support for Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/bLL05R0Rgk
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 16, 2026
Kasparov — founder and chairman of the nonprofit group Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI) — replied to the Churchill quote by writing: “Please, Rep. Bacon, more getting House votes together to stop this insanity and less tweeting!”
Gary, I know you are a smart guy, but you are obviously ill informed on what I’ve tried to do to force a vote. Please block me so you don’t have to read my social media. Your comments actually undermine the goal of getting Congressional action. https://t.co/TtwRfHzDg8
— Rep. Don Bacon
(@RepDonBacon) March 16, 2026
Bacon replied to Kasparov: “Gary [sic], I know you are a smart guy, but you are obviously ill informed on what I’ve tried to do to force a vote. Please block me so you don’t have to read my social media. Your comments actually undermine the goal of getting Congressional action.”
In January, with Bacon, Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced the bipartisan No Funds for NATO Invasion Act to prevent federal funds from being used to invade NATO allies or protected territories. That effort was largely in response to Trump’s threat to “take” Greenland, an autonomous part of Denmark.
On Iran, Bacon has been mostly hawkish, acknowledging the U.S. military campaign is “high risk” but “long overdue.”