White House struggles to contain fallout from Trump-Putin summit

[webfact]

White House struggles to contain fallout from Trump-Putin summit

By Roberta Rampton

 

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House struggled on Wednesday to contain the furore over President Donald Trump's heavily criticized summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, denying Trump ever meant to say that Moscow was no longer targeting the United States.

 

Trump, facing a political uproar over his failure to confront Putin over Russia's 2016 U.S. election meddling, adopted his usual defiant posture two days after their Helsinki summit and called his critics deranged.

 

Asked by a journalist before a morning Cabinet meeting at the White House whether Russia was still targeting the United States, Trump looked at the reporter, shook his head and said, "No."

 

At a later briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president was saying "no" to answering questions, not to the question itself.

 

American intelligence officials have said Russia's efforts to undermine U.S. elections are continuing and now target the Nov. 6 congressional races. Sanders said Trump believes the threat from Russia to undermine the midterm elections still exists.

 

"The president has made clear to Vladimir Putin that he should stay out of U.S. elections," Sanders said. "The president and his administration are working very hard to make sure that Russia is unable to meddle in our elections, as they have done in the past."

It was the second time since Monday's summit that Trump and the White House have blamed a misstatement or misunderstanding for the furore over Russia.

 

On Tuesday, Trump said he misspoke at a Helsinki news conference with Putin and that he accepted intelligence agency conclusions about Russian election meddling, although he hedged by deviating from his prepared notes to say "it could be other people also. There's a lot of people out there."

 

Trump stunned the world on Monday by shying away from criticizing the Russian leader for Moscow's actions to undermine the 2016 presidential election, sparking bipartisan fury at home and prompting calls by some U.S. lawmakers for tougher sanctions and other actions to punish Russia.

 

Critics have accused Trump of siding with Russia over his own country by failing to criticise Moscow for what U.S. intelligence agencies last year described as Russia's election interference in an attempt to sow discord, aid Trump's candidacy and disparage Trump's Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

 

Putin has denied the allegations.

 

'DOING VERY WELL'

"We're doing very well, probably as well as anybody has ever done with Russia. And there's been no president ever as tough as I have been on Russia," Trump said before the Cabinet meeting, adding that Putin "understands it and he's not happy about it."

 

In a series of early morning Twitter posts, the Republican president said the summit would eventually produce "big results" and accused his critics of "Trump Derangement Syndrome."

 

"Some people HATE the fact that I got along well with President Putin of Russia. They would rather go to war than see this. It's called Trump Derangement Syndrome!" the president wrote.

 

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told a congressional committee in February he already had seen evidence Russia was targeting U.S. elections in November, when Republican control of the House of Representatives and Senate is at stake.

 

In rebutting Trump's dismissive comments about U.S. intelligence on Monday, Coats said, "We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy."

 

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Trump needed to wake up to Russia's efforts to interfere in American elections.

 

"We won't be able, as a nation, to fight back against foreign interference in our elections if the Commander in Chief doesn't even acknowledge that it's a real problem," Schumer said in a statement.

 

Republican Senator John McCain accused Trump of "playing right into Putin's hands" with the president's comments in a Fox News interview on Tuesday that appeared to question the American commitment to defend all NATO allies.

 

Asked why Americans should defend NATO member Montenegro from attack, Trump said, "I've asked the same question.

 

Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people. ... They are very aggressive people, they may get aggressive, and congratulations, you are in World War Three."

 

Montenegro joined NATO last year in defiance of Moscow after accusing Russian spies of orchestrating an attempted coup to derail the accession.

 

In his morning tweets, Trump said he elicited a promise from Putin during their meeting to help negotiations with North Korea, but did not say how. Trump met North Korea's Kim Jong Un last month, and recently received a letter from Kim expressing hope for "practical actions" in the future as the United States seeking Pyongyang's denuclearisation.

 

Russia's RIA news agency, citing Moscow's envoy to Pyongyang, reported that a summit between the leaders of Russia and North Korea is "on the agenda" and that it would be "logical" to raise the idea of lifting sanctions.

 

(Additional reporting by Denis Pinchuk in Moscow, Alison Williams in London, Amanda Becker, Sarah Lynch and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Mary Milliken and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-19

[mtls2005]

"Clean up in aisle 3, again."

 

Sarah Huckabilly Sanders traipses out with bucket/mop again.

 

 

[stevenl]

" At a later briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president was saying "no" to answering questions, not to the question itself. "

Really sad excuse.

[tomacht8]

“The moment you start creating some relative notion about whether we should start defending certain allies because they are small or big, then you start sowing doubt,” said Fabrice Pothier, formerly NATO’s director of policy planning. “Once more I think President Trump is doing Putin’s job.”

[Credo]

42 minutes ago, stevenl said:

" At a later briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president was saying "no" to answering questions, not to the question itself. "

Really sad excuse.

He was asked twice and said 'no' both times.   He then went on to answer more questions.   

 

[sirineou]

 Trump's defence . I am not a traitor, I am just stupid. 

[Opl]

Actually, Trump is Putin's best ally, what could possibly be wrong? 

[Credo]

It's clear that Trump is putting himself before his country.

 

Trump is making the Clintons look clean

 

Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 in part because voters perceived his opponent, Hillary Clinton, to be a dishonest, self-dealing phony.

Trump has now pulled off the improbable: He makes Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill look like ethical exemplars, compared with the corruption endemic in Trump’s administration.

Whatever you think of Trump, there was legitimacy to his call, back in 2016, to “drain the swamp” and bring fresh blood to Washington

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/trump-making-clintons-look-clean-193314744.html

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

And there's been no president ever as tough as I have been on Russia

The toughest wimp in the world

[Bundooman]

52 minutes ago, stevenl said:

" At a later briefing, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the president was saying "no" to answering questions, not to the question itself. "

Really sad excuse.

'Sarah Huckabilly Sanders' is just about the finest description I have heard regarding this huge worm-like sycophant who continually makes herself look so stupid every time she defends that worthless excuse occupying the role of "President." of the US.

 

Oh, how the world laughs at the newly made, 'Make America Great', dis-united USA . A Silly, badly thought through damage control 'reason' trawled out by her - confident in the belief that the adoring, blinkered and disreputable republicans of this once great country will drool over every lame excuse that vomits from her ever increasingly fantasy administration.

 

Liar!

[Emster23]

Trump is trying to up ante and distract by now "considering" handing over former US ambassador to Russia to Putin for questioning. “By failing to reject the idea out of hand – immediately and forcefully – Trump signaled that absolutely nothing is off limits when it comes to Putin. " Take a look on Dailybeast for more info

[neeray]

35 minutes ago, Credo said:

It's clear that Trump is putting himself before his country.

 

Trump is making the Clintons look clean

 

Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 in part because voters perceived his opponent, Hillary Clinton, to be a dishonest, self-dealing phony.

Trump has now pulled off the improbable: He makes Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill look like ethical exemplars, compared with the corruption endemic in Trump’s administration.

Whatever you think of Trump, there was legitimacy to his call, back in 2016, to “drain the swamp” and bring fresh blood to Washington

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/trump-making-clintons-look-clean-193314744.html

He drained the swamp alright. Kicked out the best so he could fill it with his own ass kissers who suck up to the wannabe King Swamp Dog. Wonderful, single handed governance. Good thing he didn't engineer the cave rescue. The man has no idea of the concept of "Team Play" other than to dutifully take orders from Captain Putin. Yes sir !

[mtls2005]

Trump campaign Virginia chairman asks question in White House briefing

 

The Trump campaign's Virginia chairman, John Fredricks, asked a question during the White House press briefing on Wednesday. 

 

Fredricks, who hosts a syndicated conservative radio show called the John Fredricks Show, asked the last question of the briefing. 

 

"I want to change the topic a minute if I may and go South," Fredricks said, eliciting a smile from press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

 

http://thehill.com/media/397723-trump-campaign-virginia-chairman-asks-question-in-white-house-briefing

[soalbundy]

32 minutes ago, Bundooman said:

'Sarah Huckabilly Sanders' is just about the finest description I have heard regarding this huge worm-like sycophant who continually makes herself look so stupid every time she defends that worthless excuse occupying the role of "President." of the US.

 

Oh, how the world laughs at the newly made, 'Make America Great', dis-united USA . A Silly, badly thought through damage control 'reason' trawled out by her - confident in the belief that the adoring, blinkered and disreputable republicans of this once great country will drool over every lame excuse that vomits from her ever increasingly fantasy administration.

 

Liar!

What else could she say, ''He badly needs a psychiatrist''? true but she needs her job, she works for a demented liar so she has to lie.

[mtls2005]

9 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

she works for a demented liar

 

No.

 

She works for the American public.

 

And not all of us are demented, just ~ 60 million or so.

[Tug]

Party time at Putin’s place!!best USA president ever!!!and now the feckless sob wants to hand over a diplomat god it should be obvious to the trumpers that he is in Putin’s pocket I think he wants to be impeached or???.....

[DM07]

I wonder, if he really thinks, all 'Muricans are so stupid, to eat up all his dumb@$$ lies!

?

 

[mtls2005]

2 minutes ago, DM07 said:

I wonder, if he really thinks, all 'Muricans are so stupid, to eat up all his dumb@$$ lies!

?

 

 

Not all. Just his "base".

 

 

[neeray]

6 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Not all. Just his "base".

 

 

President Trump on Wednesday said he thinks he did a "great job" at Monday's controversial joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.

"I think I did great at the news conference," Trump said on CBS Evening News. "I think it was a strong news conference."

 

And dumber than a baseball bat to make comments like the above. But so what? His base will suck it up. That's all that matters to him.

[sammieuk1]

Watch bearing generals here have more credibility than big Don right now time for a covfefe Vlad.  

[Opl]

- Trump : " So many people at the higher ends of intelligence loved my press conference performance in Helsinki”

- Trump: "there’s never been a president as tough on Russia as I have been”

Russian Officials Hail Putin's Success at Trump Helsinki Summit

— Viktor Bondarev, head of the Federation Council’s defense and security committee

“The attempt of the Americans to build a unipolar world was unsuccessful. Everyone understands this. The whole world knows that Russia can’t be ignored. The very fact of this meeting and dialogue is convincing proof of this. Glory and praise to President Vladimir Putin for raising the standing of Russia in the international arena to such an extent that, despite American and EU attempts to confront and pressure us with sanctions, they are still forced to look for ways to find common ground with us.”

https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russian-officials-hail-putins-success-trump-helsinki-summit-62268

[spidermike007]

The swamp creature is waffling! He does not really know what he said at the conference. As is typical of this political charlatan, and foreign policy imbecile, he made it up as he went along. Often that works if he stays confined to the US, where a significant portion of the population is really dumbed down, from gorging on 30 years of reality TV. But, it does not work overseas, and it certainly does not work with the US allies, who are ALL far smarter than Tiny Don, and infinitely more sophisticated than this arrogant, feckless, incompetent, ignorant, puffed up, orange man child. A number of my friends, who are real Trump supporters, are very silent all of a sudden. Almost as if the disguise he has been wearing fell off. He meant what he said, and is simply trying to prevent some of his supporters from liking him less. That is very painful for him, when people like him less.

 

Tiny Don. Moving America backwards at a breath taking and astonishing pace. Definitely, without a doubt, NOT making America great again! 

[Chomper Higgot]

It’s often been said you can’t put thoughts that have been spoken back in the box.

 

The word is out, people have said it and are saying it - ‘Trump is a traitor’.

 

Illiberals Get your denial glasses on.

 

It’s not going to get any better for him from now on.

[mtls2005]

Maybe he forgot? Quel buffoon.

 

From the Start, Trump Has Muddied a Clear Message: Putin Interfered

 

WASHINGTON — Two weeks before his inauguration, Donald J. Trump was shown highly classified intelligence indicating that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had personally ordered complex cyberattacks to sway the 2016 American election.

 

The evidence included texts and emails from Russian military officers and information gleaned from a top-secret source close to Mr. Putin, who had described to the C.I.A. how the Kremlin decided to execute its campaign of hacking and disinformation.

 

Mr. Trump sounded grudgingly convinced, according to several people who attended the intelligence briefing. But ever since, Mr. Trump has tried to cloud the very clear findings that he received on Jan. 6, 2017, which his own intelligence leaders have unanimously endorsed.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/world/europe/trump-intelligence-russian-election-meddling-.html?rref=collection%2Fnewseventcollection%2Frussian-election-hacking&action=click&contentCollection=politics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

[Jonmarleesco]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump Derangement Syndrome

Yes, that would certainly fit with much of what he does and says.

[Esso49]

Most of the civilized world were outraged and in shock when JFK was assassinated in Dallas 55 years ago. If the same fate befell Trump I would suspect that a similar percentage would breath a huge sigh of relief and an even higher percentage of Americans would say "God Bless America".

[johnnybangkok]

3 hours ago, DM07 said:

I wonder, if he really thinks, all 'Muricans are so stupid, to eat up all his dumb@$$ lies!

?

 

on the BBC today 'A Reauters poll this week found that despite a firestorm of media criticism, Mr Trump's Finland summit had no real impact on his overall approval ratings. In the survey, 42% of all registered voters approved of his job performance, which is consistent with averages thus far.  Some 71% of Republicans polled approved of his response to Russia..................'

 

I mean seriously, what does this guy have to do or say that is going to change the mind of any of his base?  I'm now actually believing him when he said he could stand on New York’s Fifth Avenue “and shoot somebody” and still not lose voters.

 

[spidermike007]

Bizarre. Now he is saying there was collusion and Putin is to blame. He is insisting he has said this many times before, when in reality he has been in denial for 30 months. This was a major part of his campaign, and has been a major talking point within his presidency. Within 24 hours his story has completely changed. Previously he has said it was all fake media and bad intelligence that cannot be believed. This is a historic flip. The biggest of his presidency so far. What are his devotees to make of this complete and utter uturn?

 

Obviously someone finally got him into a room, and managed to get him to focus his little, restless mind for five minutes. They told him the remaining credibility he had was badly being eroded and he would have to capitulate, or risk losing some of his base, and all of his credibility. 

[wabothai]

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

What else could she say, ''He badly needs a psychiatrist''? true but she needs her job, she works for a demented liar so she has to lie.

She could quit. she is vile.

[dunroaming]

I would think that the Trump supporters on TV must be struggling at the moment.  As soon as they rush to defend the buffoon and his ranting, he takes a breath and totally contradicts what he has just said.  So do they then contradict their own defence of him or do they wait to see if he does another U-turn?

 

Trump now holds Putin personally responsible for election interference.  Pathetic!