“They think it’s
Russia. I have President Putin — he just said it’s not Russia. I
don’t see any reason why it would be.”
– Donald Trump; July
16, 2018; Press Conference
Today may be described as one of the
lowest points of foreign policy during the term of any American
president. Watching this press conference for U.S. President Donald
Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was disturbing to say the
least. It serves to remind us of the dealings of a seriously inept
man attempting to function as the leader of the free world. Political
condemnation of Trump's actions (or lack of action) has been swift
and continuous. Many agree he is a true danger to the future of
America.
United States intelligence agencies say
Russia interfered in the 2016 United States election. Putin denies
it. And, Trump refused to say, but he expressed doubt about whether
Russia was to blame.
In the press conference, Trump did not
criticize Putin or the cyber-attacks that the US intelligence
community says he coordinated to help Trump’s 2016 election
campaign. “I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I
will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful
in his denial today,” Trump said.
The timing of the Trump-Putin meeting
was exceptionally awkward. Just days ago, the Justice Department
indicted 12 Russian intelligence agents on charges of hacking the
Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s presidential
campaign.
Dan Coats, director of National
intelligence, said the US intelligence community has "been
clear" in its assessments of Russian interference in the 2016
election, describing their actions as "ongoing and pervasive
efforts to undermine our democracy."
Coats assesses …
“The role of the Intelligence
Community is to provide the best information and fact-based
assessments possible for the President and policymakers. We have been
clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and
their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we
will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in
support of our national security.”
Republican Sen. Richard Burr, chairman
of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there's no doubt that
Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. He added that
any statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin contradicting the
US intelligence's assessment is "a lie and should be recognized
as one by the President."
Burr reports …
“Russia has conducted a
coordinated cyberattack on state election systems, and hacked
critical infrastructure. They have used social media to sow chaos and
discord in our society. They have beaten and harassed U.S. diplomats
and violated anti-proliferation treaties. Any statement by Vladimir
Putin contrary to these facts is a lie and should be recognized as
one by the President.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
said he was "appalled" by President Trump's comments at his
press conference with Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying he "could
get worse than his performance at the NATO summit – but it sure
did."
"He took the word of the KGB
over the men and women of the CIA. The President put what's best for
him over what's best for the security and well-being of the United
States … When it comes to the interference in our 2016 elections,
the President has managed to point his finger at just about everybody
except the culprit ... The one person he hasn’t blamed is the
person he stood shoulder to shoulder with this morning: Vladimir
Putin."
Texas Republican Rep.Will Hurd
criticized President Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin. Hurd tweeted that "the President is wrong," saying
Russia did interfere in the 2016 election.
Hurd says …
“As a former CIA officer and a
Congressman on the House Intelligence Committee, I can affirmatively
say there is nothing about agreeing with a thug like Putin that puts
America First.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan said:
“There is no question that
Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine
democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of
the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on
Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our
ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and
Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals.
The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and
putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”
In a blistering shot at President
Trump, Republican Sen. John McCain called today’s news conference
"one of the most disgraceful performances by an American
president in memory." He added that it was a “recent low
point” in the history of the presidency, calling the summit “a
tragic mistake."
McCain explains …
“The damage inflicted by
President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and
sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear
that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake. President Trump
proved not only unable, but unwilling to stand up to Putin. He and
Putin seemed to be speaking from the same script as the president
made a conscious choice to defend a tyrant against the fair questions
of a free press, and to grant Putin an uncontested platform to spew
propaganda and lies to the world.”
Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Senate
Republican, made it clear that he believes the intelligence community
and special counsel Robert Mueller's indictments. Cornyn says Trump
seems concerned his election is being delegitimized by critics.
According to Cornyn …
“I don’t think we should be
taking a former KGB colonel’s word for what their intelligence
apparatus is doing or not doing. I believe our intelligence
community, and their assessment, and I think what special counsel Bob
Mueller just indicted — the 12 GRU officials — is spot on. So I
don’t know what the President is trying to use some sort of
carrot-and-stick approach with Putin, but I believe the intelligence
community.”
Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of
Nebraska, joined in. “This is bizarre and flat-out wrong,” he
said. “The United States is not to blame.”
Sasse says …
“America wants a good relationship
with the Russian people but Vladimir Putin and his thugs are
responsible for Soviet-style aggression. When the president plays
these moral equivalence games, he gives Putin a propaganda win he
desperately needs.”
Jeff Flake, Republican senator from
Arizina, tweets …
“I never thought I would see the day
when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian
President and place blame on the United States for Russian
aggression. This is shameful.”
According to Mike Murphy, Republican
strategist …
And John O. Brennan, who was C.I.A.
director under President Barack Obama, speaks of impeachment:
“Donald Trump’s press conference
performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high
crimes & misdemeanors.’ It was nothing short of treasonous. Not
only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of
Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???”
Sources
Julie Hirschfeld Davis. “Trump, Putin
and the ‘Incredible Offer.'” The New York Times. July 16,
2018.
Luke Harding. “Trump-Putin meeting
reactions: 'Russia is not our ally', says Paul Ryan – live.” The
Guardian. July 16. 2018.
Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Brian Ries
and Sheena McKenzie. “Trump and Putin meet in Helsinki.” CNN.
July 16, 2018.
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