Trump said Putin's meeting was "even better" than NATO's because he was facing severe criticism

WASHINGTON – Intimidated by the Broad Condemnation of His Embrace US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin was "even better" than his meeting with NATO allies last week in Brussels.

The tweeted defense comes a day after Trump was openly questioned. The findings of his own intelligence agencies that Russia mingled with the 2016 US elections to his advantage, and he seemed to accept Putin's insistence that Moscow had clean hands.

Trump's reference to his NATO performance also had an advantage, since the barrage of criticism and criticism Insults that he delivered there were generally not well received. He rejected all this with a new attack on an old target: the media. He stated that his NATO meeting was "excellent" but that he "had had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin, from Russia.Unfortunately, it is not reported that way – the false news goes crazy! "

In fact, the reaction to the house was immediate and visceral, among the Republicans and the usual Trump critics. "Shameful", "disgraceful", "weak", were some of the comments. GOP President Bob Corker of Tennessee

Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki was his first sharing on the international scene with a man whom he described as an important American competitor – but who He also praised a Strong and Effective Leader

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His remarks, placing himself with an alien enemy on foreign soil on his own government, was a striking illustration of Trump's desire to reverse decades of American foreign policy and to make the Western allies vibrate in the service of its political concerns. A cautious and robust stance towards Russia has been the cornerstone of his party's worldview. But Trump made it clear that any recognition of Russia's involvement in the elections would undermine the legitimacy of his election.

Along with Putin, Trump avoided any confrontation with the Russians, going so far as to question US intelligence and the federal government. The accusations of charges against Russians accusing 12 Russians of having hacked democratic accounts hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"I trust my intelligent people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful today 19659026] "He just said that it was not Russia. I will say this: I see no reason why this would be, "said Trump.

His skepticism drew a swift formal statement – almost a rebuttal – from Trump's director of national intelligence, Dan Coats. in the 2016 elections and their continued and widespread efforts to undermine our democracy have been clear, and we will continue to provide objective intelligence without backing up our national security, "said Coats

. GOP politicians generally stayed with Trump for a year and a half of agitation, but he was badailed as rarely before as he returned home Monday night from what he had hoped would be a proud summit with Putin.

John McCain, of Arizona, stated that Trump had "deliberately chosen to defend a tyrant" and had achieved "one of the most shameful representations of an American president in memory". The Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, rarely criticizes Trump. Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House, described Trump's comments as "the most serious mistake of his presidency" and stated that they "must be corrected – immediately" [19659026]. Former CIA director John Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama, described Trump's words as "treason". Brennan tweeted: "Not only are Trump's comments foolish, but they are entirely in Putin's pocket." Republican patriots: Where are you? "

Kentucky senator, libertarian, Rand Paul, has emerged as one of the few supporters of the president of his own party.He defended Trump's skepticism at CBS News on Tuesday citing the president's experience at the end of "partisan inquiries."

Back at the White House, Paul's comments drew a presidential tweet of gratitude. "TrandPaul, you really understood it!" Trump tweeted.

While he was returning to Washington Monday night at On board Air Force One, Trump attempted to clarify his position on US intelligence services, saying by tweet: said today and several times before: "I have great confidence in my people's intelligence. "However, I also recognize that to constrain For a better future, we can not focus exclusively on the past – as the two largest nuclear powers in the world, we have to agree! "

In all, Trump's remarks constituted an unprecedented embrace of a man who was isolated for years by American and Western allies for actions in Ukraine, Syria and beyond.And that came at the end of an extraordinary journey into Europe in which Trump had already criticized the allies, questioned the value of the NATO alliance and belittled the leaders, including German Angela Merkel and Britain's Theresa May

– in margin of meetings of world leaders in Germany and Vietnam last year – but it was their first official summit and closely watched, especially following the announcement on Friday of new indictments against 12 intelligence officers Russians accused of hacking Democratic e-mails

Asked about the indictments, Putin suggested that Moscow and Washington jointly conduct the investigation, inviting investigators of Special Adviser Robert Mueller to come to Russia to interview them. 12 people – an idea that Trump called "incredible offer". [19659008] Putin said that he would expect the United States to return the favor and cooperate in the Russian probe against Wil liam Browder, a British investor accused of financial crimes in Russia. Browder, Putin's open critic, has been the driving force behind a US law targeting Russian officials for human rights violations.

The summit began a few hours after Donald Trump blamed the United States and not the election of Russia. A low point in US-Russian relations

"Our relationship with Russia has never been worse," tweeted Trump on Monday morning, accusing "many years of American stupidity and stupidity and now, witch hunt faked!"

approving Trump's tweet and then replying, "We agree."

Putin was ridiculed as "nonsense" that Russian intelligence agencies had collected compromising information about Trump during his visit to Moscow years before the elections. Trump was even visiting.

Trump also rejected the idea in his interview with Hannity, adding, "If they had it, he would have been released."

Yet, Putin said that he had in wanted effect that Trump wins the elections – A revelation that could have made more titles if not for Trump's performance – but had not taken any steps to get there.

"Yes, I wanted him to wins because he was talking about normalization of Russian-American relations. links, "said Putin." Is not it natural to feel sympathy for someone who wants to develop relationships with our country? It's normal. "

In the streets, the summit drew a bag of protesters, with abortion militants carrying artificially inflated bellies and Trump masks, anti-fascist demonstrators wearing insulting signs charged with Explosives, and free traders, anti-war Ukrainians and gay rights advocates make their voices heard.