Putin's offer of conservative "sanctuary" piques MAGA interest (2024)

Vladimir Putin has called for those in the West who are trying to escape its "neoliberal ideals" to move to Russia—an idea already being embraced in some Make America Great Again (MAGA) circles.

The Russian president, who is currently freeing violent criminals to restock his army amid his war against Ukraine, wants to welcome disillusioned Western nationals into his country, according to Russian news agency Tass.

He is so keen, Monday's report suggested, that these people will be issued with three-month visas without having to demonstrate any "knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws."

Putin signed the decree which says applicants can base their requests around their rejection of their home countries "imposing destructive neoliberal ideals on people, which run counter to traditional Russian spiritual and moral values."

Russia's Foreign Ministry has been instructed to begin issuing the visas from as early as September, while the government is expected to compile a list of countries it believes are forcing liberal attitudes on their citizens.

Somewhat counterintuitively, some figures in the MAGA movement are promoting Putin's plan as an exciting option, despite the group's usual pro-American patriotism and anti-immigration stance.

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InfoWars' Alex Jones shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) with his 2.7 million followers, saying: "BREAKING: PUTIN JUST DROPPED A BOMBSHELL DECREE—INVITING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO ARE FED UP WITH THE GLOBALIST, NEOLIBERAL NIGHTMARE TO SEEK SANCTUARY IN TRADITIONAL RUSSIA! This new decree blows the lid off the establishment's agenda, letting freedom-loving folks bypass the usual bureaucratic nonsense like language tests or history exams.

"If you're ready to reject the insane policies of your home countries that push these destructive, anti-human, neoliberal agendas, Russia is rolling out the red carpet! The Russian government is about to compile a list of countries poisoning minds with these twisted ideals, and the Foreign Ministry is gearing up to issue visas to true patriots as soon as September! It's time to stand up for spiritual and moral values!"

One X user, whose profile says he works as a "professor of Russia stuff" for the Polish government's anti-totalitarian Pilecki Institute, replied to Jones' post, saying: "Yes, please move to Russia. You'll love all that freedom. I will personally pay for your ticket and a year's rent in an apartment if you move to Russia." Jones replied, "No."

But some of those commenting on Jones' post also seemed intrigued by the idea of immigrating. One wrote: "This is completely sad that Russia has to offer safe haven to people from the West. That shows how corrupt the West is. How have the tables turned."

Another added: "I would rather be under the leadership of Vladimir Putin any day over Kamala Harris!!" While one X user wrote: "Never thought I'd see more rationality in Putin than my own country in my lifetime."

But Jones' post seemed to baffle some of his fans. One wrote: "We don't need to move to Russia, we need to fix America." Another commentator, who says she is "MAGA" in her profile, wrote: "Whoa. Who's going to take Putin up on this and give up America?"

Another added that "a real American and true patriot will not leave his soil and seek refuge. He will fight tooth and nail to get the job done."

Others in the discussion feared that Putin may have ulterior motives.

One shared a GIF saying, "It's a trap!" While another added: "Anyone who thinks this sounds like a nice idea needs to remember that Russia's in the middle of a war right now, and has issued a draft for military-aged man. This sounds like a clever way to bolster the Russian forces."

Newsweek has reached out to Russia's Foreign Ministry by email seeking further information and comment about the decree, and asking whether any Americans who moved to Russia under the plan would be required to fight.

Putin's decree offering sanctuary to those who feel oppressed in the West comes after Russia's Ministry of Defense shared footage of a former U.S. Air Force guardsman, who reportedly became so disillusioned with his country that he signed up to the Russian army. He had reportedly fled the U.S. after being charged with possession of child sexual abuse images. "I don't consider myself a traitor," he said.

Another American, Russell Bentley, granted an exclusive interview to Newsweek in March 2022, saying he was a communist who was helping Russia "liberate" Ukraine. He moved to Russia in 2014 and said if he ever returned to America, "it'll be on a Russian tank to liberate the U.S., just like what we're doing here."

The 61-year-old, known as "Texas," after his home state, added: "If the Ukrainians come into Donetsk, I will fight. I have a machine gun and have a lot of bullets, and I'll use them. I'm not afraid of being killed, but I know what would happen to me if I got captured. So that ain't gonna happen."

He died the following month. A Russian soldier told reporters: "'Texas' was killed! In the same way that they let so many of our brothers die."