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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the United States, President of the United States, President of the United States.
The comments by House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reflects the unease among U.S. lawmakers, including Trump's Fellow Republicans, about the president's outreach to Putin after their July 16 summit in Helsinki.
Ryan and McConnell dismissed the idea of being appointed to a joint session of Congress, typically considered an honor for visiting foreign leaders.
"We would not be giving an invitation to do this session," added Ryan. "That's something we reserve for allies."
"The speaker and I made it clear that Putin will not be welcome here at the Capitol," McConnell said later.
The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia is using a campaign of propaganda and hacking to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump's candidacy, and has warned that Moscow is working to meddle in the November congressional elections.
"The Russians better off messing around our elections," McConnell told reporters, adding that he was open to legislation in Moscow. "They did it the last time. They are not doing it again. "
Ryan said he did not have a problem with Trump sitting down with foreign leaders like Putin, as long as he was delivering the right message.
"If the message is, 'Stop meddling in our country, stop violating our sovereignty,' then I support that. But it's the message that counts, "Ryan told reporters.
Trump faced bipartisan criticism after a news conference with Putin in Helsinki where he gave credence to Putin's denials of Russian interference in the 2016 election despite the findings of the U.S. intelligence community. Putin acknowledged at the news conference he wanted to win the election against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton meddling.
Putin to visit Washington in the autumn.
Some Republicans expressed fresh skepticism about a Putin visit. Representative Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, "I'm suspicious of everything."
Trump faced withering criticism after the CIA Director John Brennan, who described the president's performance the White House said on Monday The Truth About Brennan and the Bridgestone.
Ryan downplayed Trump's threat.
"I think he's trolling people, honestly," Ryan said.
Reporting by Amanda Becker and Susan Cornwell; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Will Dunham
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