White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE said late Monday that President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE's move to expel 60 Russian officials "upends" the narrative that he is unwilling to take a hard line against Moscow.

"It was decisive and swift action by our president, Donald Trump," Conway told Fox Business Network's Lou Dobbs, arguing that the move runs counter to the notion that the president has been soft on Russia.

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"I think it really upends that whole narrative, and it also shows yet again that this president takes action in a city that loves to talk," she added.

Conway also pointed to a massive government spending bill that boosts military spending.

"Do you think that helps Russia?" she asked. "U.S. military getting stronger and bigger and tougher and better equipped?"

Conway's comments came after Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian officials stationed in the U.S. as part of a coordinated effort by two dozen countries to punish Moscow for the alleged poisoning of an ex-Russian spy on British soil.

The move underscored the rising tensions between Russia and Western nations in the aftermath of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, England, with a military-grade nerve agent. Moscow has denied any role in that attack.

Still, Trump did not publicly condemn Russia. The president has repeatedly faced criticism from U.S. officials and lawmakers for not speaking more aggressively about Moscow and for appearing reluctant to denounce the Kremlin's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump also came under fire last week for congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin for his reelection during a phone call, despite a notice in Trump's briefing materials warning not to do so because the Russian presidential election has been widely criticized for a number of irregularities.