Under the fire of Vladimir Putin's meeting, Trump insists that it was a success

President Donald Trump says he's misquoted during his much-criticized press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
[19459099] Washington, President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Washington DC – President Donald Trump fought Wednesday to contain Fury on his summit with Vladimir Putin, while he gave contradictory signals as to know he believes that there are Russian threats going on in the US elections.

For a third day, Trump and his assistants were in damage control mode. Republican and Democratic lawmakers dismayed by the president's friendly behavior towards Putin and his failure to confront the Russian leader on Moscow's interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump began the day by insisting on Twitter that the Helsinki meeting with the Russian president had been a success and those who blasted it were suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome!"

Then, after a morning cabinet meeting, when asked if the Russ Americans still target the United States, Trump said "no" twice – an answer that seemed to contradict a warning from the National Intelligence Director Dan Coats this week that Russia is engaged in "continuous and ubiquitous efforts" to meddle in the US elections. Afternoon spokeswoman Sarah Sanders attempted to clarify Trump's morning remarks, claiming the president's "no" was intended to clarify that he did not want to answer questions from the journalists. "We believe the threat still exists" and are taking steps to block Russian cyber attacks, Sanders said.

Later, Trump hardened his message by telling CBS News that he was holding Putin personally responsible for Russian activity in the US elections. of the country, just as I consider myself responsible for the things that are happening in this country. "

Trump asserted that he told Putin:" We can not have this, we will not have it. as it will be. "

Not everyone was convinced." Critics have questioned Trump's sincerity after his review of the statement that he trusts the assessment of the US intelligence community that the Russia interfered with the 2016 elections, as opposed to Putin's denials

Mr. President, it is time to stop speaking from a KGB agent rather than that of your own agents of intelligence, "said Senator Charles Schumer, DN.Y., the Senate's leading Democrat. Parties continued to drown other messages from the White House Thursday Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Promised to grill state secretary Mike Pompeo on the meeting with Putin at a public meeting. hearing next week, which will help keep the question

"I will not attend any forum in the United States Senate to challenge what happened to NATO, which Went to Helsinki, "said Corker. "I do not care about anyone in putting pressure on this administration for some of the worst things I've seen in public regarding our country."

The White House confirmed that Putin spoke with Trump at their summit in Helsinki, about the pursuit of former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul and financier Bill Browder – and refused to Exclude US cooperation in such an effort

"There was no commitment on behalf of the US Sanders said:" Foreign policy analysts have said that Trump should immediately reject the idea of ​​Russian lawsuits against McFaul and Browder, saying that Putin is targeting them because they have brought to light corruption within the Russian government.

"There is nothing to consult," tweeted Dan Shapiro, US ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration. "Taking sides on Twitter to defend his meeting with Putin, Trump said:" Russia has agreed to go ahead with the news. help North Korea, "and the two leaders" discussed many topics i mportants "at their summit, although he did not provide

" We got along well, which bothered many many enemies who wanted to see a boxing match, "Trump said. "Great results will come!"

For more: Trump expresses his support for US intelligence one day after stirring bipartisan outrage with comments of Putin

For more information: Experts fear that Trump's meeting with Putin will embolden Russian interference midway through To find out more more: The president's tweets have not touched on why the meeting sparked such fury: Trump's suggestion that he believed Putin had denied the interference of Russian elections in the United States. US intelligence officials who have filed criminal charges against the Russians.

Trump resumed his comments Tuesday at the White House, saying: "I accept the conclusion of our intelligence community that Russia's interference in the 2016 elections has taken place."

He added "There could be other people too …"

Trump said that he was misrepresented at Putin's press conference, in saying that he was using the word "would" rather than "would not" in speaking of the Russian interference, saying, "I see no reason why it would not be Russia."

The attempt at clarification did not convince critics who said that Trump is more favorable to opponents such as Putin than allies like German Chancellor Angela Merkel Schumer wonders if Putin has compromising documents on Trump

Democrats mock the idea that Russia no longer targets the US elections.

"It's just wrong," said Senator Mark Warner, D-Va. "

There said: "I will take Dan Coats' speech on Putin's day any day."

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H., said the president "has shown leadership and stature, Vladimir Putin, a man who has spent his entire life working against He asked that Trump's interpreter for the Putin meeting testifies before the Congress.

Republican lawmakers also criticized Trump's comments in Helsinki and made it clear that they were standing in front of Congress. with US intelligence agencies and European allies who suspect Russia of trying to destabilize the West.

Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he was trying to find out if it would be appropriate to ask for notes taken by the interpreter. in the hall during the private meeting between Trump and Putin in Helsinki.

"It would be unprecedented," said the Republican of Tennessee. "And you have to remember, these interpreters are sometimes not politicians, they are, in some cases, contractors, in the future, notes could be taken if we started doing this kind of thing?"

Pompeo will appear before the committee next week to answer questions about the Helsinki summit and Trump's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"We'll see how that happens and if Other steps are needed "On Twitter, Trump said Putin and he could work together on many issues. He compared Putin's meeting with the NATO summit he attended last week.

Claiming that NATO members would pay more for defense – NATO members said they were increasing their defense budgets – Trump said: to be, in the long run, an even greater success: a lot of positive things will come out of this meeting. "

To find out more: Corker:" I do not care anymore about anyone "Trump about NATO, Russia

Contribution: Michael Collins and Herb Jackson

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