WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump today faced political outrage in the United States for not backing the American intelligence group's claim that Russia interfered within the 2016 presidential election, following the Helsinki summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
From describing his comments at the joint press convention as "disgraceful", "shameful" to "treacherous", even some of his closest supporters described Trump's statements as the most critical mistake of his presidency.
Trump, who arrived at the White House after his week-long go back and forth to Europe, has defended his comments.
"As I said today and many times before, 'I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people'. However, I also recognise that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past - as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!" Trump stated in a tweet aboard Air Force One on his long ago home.
"I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace, than to risk peace in pursuit of politics," he stated, including that a productive dialogue is not just excellent for the United States and Russia, however is also excellent for the world.
US analysts stated Trump refused to convincingly state that the Russians interfered within the 2016 presidential election at his press convention with Putin after their first summit meeting.
"They said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin -- he just said it's not Russia," Trump stated, including that he does not "see any reason why it would be" Russia. Putin too has rejected the allegations.
"Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. 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," stated Republican Senator John McCain, who chairs the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee.
"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," he stated.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and one of the crucial president's closest supporters too criticised him.
"President Trump must clarify his statements in Helsinki on our intelligence system and Putin. It is the most serious mistake of his presidency and must be corrected - immediately," Gingrich tweeted.
Soon the pinnacle of the United States intelligence agencies and a Trump appointee issued a observation reiterating that Russians interfered within the 2016 presidential elections. "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," Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence stated.
"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???" tweeted John Brennan, stated former CIA director John Brennan.
"Today, in a disgusting, disturbing and deeply dangerous appearance seen around the world, Donald Trump sided with an authoritarian leader of another country over our own intelligence agencies," stated Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
"What we saw today was the President of the United States belittling our country's own men and women in the intelligence community, refusing to acknowledge or hold accountable Putin for Russian hacking in our elections, and standing in the most servile way next to Putin, advancing Russia's interests in spite of what that means for America," she stated.
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stated Trump did not confront Putin on Russian interference in US elections and positioned more trust within the Russian dictator's denials than within the assessments of US intelligence.
"President Trump did not carry out his responsibility as a global leader, and he should have done much more than simply asking the question of whether interference occurred. President Trump's failure to stand up to the Kremlin has given it carte blanche to interfere in our upcoming elections, and that should frighten us all," he stated.
The mainstream US media also expressed outrage. "Putin's poodle: Trump sells out US intelligence agencies with the world watching," stated The New York Daily News.
"Why Won't Donald Trump Speak for America? The president lays himself at Vladimir Putin's feet," The New York Times stated in an editorial.
"Trump just colluded with Russia. Openly," wrote the Washington Post's editorial board. "Mr Trump appeared to align himself with the Kremlin against American law enforcement before the Russian ruler and a global audience," the daily stated. "The world hasn't seen a US president like this in modern times, and as ever in Trump World everyone else will have to adapt. Let's navigate between the critics who predict the end of the world order and the cheerleaders who see only genius, and try to offer a realistic assessment of the fallout from a troubling week," The Wall Street Journal stated in its editorial.
From describing his comments at the joint press convention as "disgraceful", "shameful" to "treacherous", even some of his closest supporters described Trump's statements as the most critical mistake of his presidency.
Trump, who arrived at the White House after his week-long go back and forth to Europe, has defended his comments.
"As I said today and many times before, 'I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people'. However, I also recognise that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past - as the world's two largest nuclear powers, we must get along!" Trump stated in a tweet aboard Air Force One on his long ago home.
"I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace, than to risk peace in pursuit of politics," he stated, including that a productive dialogue is not just excellent for the United States and Russia, however is also excellent for the world.
US analysts stated Trump refused to convincingly state that the Russians interfered within the 2016 presidential election at his press convention with Putin after their first summit meeting.
"They said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin -- he just said it's not Russia," Trump stated, including that he does not "see any reason why it would be" Russia. Putin too has rejected the allegations.
"Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. 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," stated Republican Senator John McCain, who chairs the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee.
"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," he stated.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and one of the crucial president's closest supporters too criticised him.
"President Trump must clarify his statements in Helsinki on our intelligence system and Putin. It is the most serious mistake of his presidency and must be corrected - immediately," Gingrich tweeted.
Soon the pinnacle of the United States intelligence agencies and a Trump appointee issued a observation reiterating that Russians interfered within the 2016 presidential elections. "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," Dan Coats, Director of National Intelligence stated.
"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???" tweeted John Brennan, stated former CIA director John Brennan.
"Today, in a disgusting, disturbing and deeply dangerous appearance seen around the world, Donald Trump sided with an authoritarian leader of another country over our own intelligence agencies," stated Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal.
"What we saw today was the President of the United States belittling our country's own men and women in the intelligence community, refusing to acknowledge or hold accountable Putin for Russian hacking in our elections, and standing in the most servile way next to Putin, advancing Russia's interests in spite of what that means for America," she stated.
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stated Trump did not confront Putin on Russian interference in US elections and positioned more trust within the Russian dictator's denials than within the assessments of US intelligence.
"President Trump did not carry out his responsibility as a global leader, and he should have done much more than simply asking the question of whether interference occurred. President Trump's failure to stand up to the Kremlin has given it carte blanche to interfere in our upcoming elections, and that should frighten us all," he stated.
The mainstream US media also expressed outrage. "Putin's poodle: Trump sells out US intelligence agencies with the world watching," stated The New York Daily News.
"Why Won't Donald Trump Speak for America? The president lays himself at Vladimir Putin's feet," The New York Times stated in an editorial.
"Trump just colluded with Russia. Openly," wrote the Washington Post's editorial board. "Mr Trump appeared to align himself with the Kremlin against American law enforcement before the Russian ruler and a global audience," the daily stated. "The world hasn't seen a US president like this in modern times, and as ever in Trump World everyone else will have to adapt. Let's navigate between the critics who predict the end of the world order and the cheerleaders who see only genius, and try to offer a realistic assessment of the fallout from a troubling week," The Wall Street Journal stated in its editorial.
Trump faces outrage back home after Putin summit
![Trump faces outrage back home after Putin summit]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
July 17, 2018
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