Howard Stern Calls Putin a ‘F—ing Animal’: ‘I Wish He Was Dead Like I Wish Hitler Was Dead’

Howard Stern launched into a tirade against Vladimir Putin during Monday’s episode of his SiriusXM radio show (via Yahoo). The host condemned members of the Republican Party for supporting Putin amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, most notably Donald Trump. While Trump said at CPAC over the weekend that Russia’s attack on Ukraine is “appalling,” he was quoted last week calling Putin a “genius” for how he started the invasion.

“I hate the Soviet Union,” Stern said. “I hate the communist regime. I always hated communism because it always turns into an autocratic situation like in China where they cut off your freedoms.”

More from Variety

• Ukrainian Filmmakers Call for Solidarity Following Russian Invasion, Warn of Global Threat

• Biden Authorizes Harsh Sanctions on Russia After Putin Invades Ukraine

• Ukraine Invasion: CNN News Is Gathering on Multiple Fronts as Russia Strikes

“I used to love the Republicans,” he added. “And their stance is firmly anti-communist — pro-capitalist, anti-communist and certainly a staunch defender of free people and free elections. I voted for many Republicans. I don’t see how I’ll ever get back to that. They’ve just totally disappointed me and their support of Vladimir Putin, the praise they heap on him. Trump’s praise of Vladimir Putin. This guy’s a fucking animal. I wish he was dead like I wish Hitler was dead.”

Stern then called Putin a “scumbag” who “has more money than anybody, who has more power than anybody, who enslaves an entire country, who will kill you if you’re a journalist, will kill you if you speak out against him, who’s got everything a man could want if you’re truly a megalomaniac and he didn’t have enough.”

For Stern, Putin’s actions are a result of the Russian leader “not being loved as a child.”

“He is a little boy who says, ‘Everything in this world is for me, and I’m going to gobble it all up for myself,'” Stern concluded. “That’s all that’s going on here. That’s what’s happening. We have a guy who feels like he’s never full. He wants more and more.”

Best of Variety

• How to Buy Tickets to BTS' Las Vegas Residency

• What Happened to Tarantino's 'Star Trek' Film? Every Detail About His Canceled Pitch

• 2022 Oscars Predictions: The Collective - Which Actors, Artisans and Movies Will Win the Academy Award?

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.