Trump embraces the long-time American foe Putin, doubting his own intel

HELSINKI – In an extraordinary hug from a longtime United States foe, President Donald Trump openly questioned on Monday the decision of his intelligence agency to interfere in the US elections of 2016. The insistence of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the fact that Moscow had clean hands.

The reaction here 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 said, "Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki was the first time that he shared the international scene with a man he described as a major US competitor. – but that his remarks, standing on the side of an enemy on his own government, were a striking illustration of Trump's willingness to upset decades of US foreign policy and undermine Western allies in the service of His political preoccupations A cautious and robust stance towards Russia has been the foundation of his party's worldview, but Trump has made it clear that any recognition of Russia's participation would undermine the legitimacy of his election. [19659002] Alongside Putin, Trump avoided any confrontation with the Russians, going so far as to question US intelligence and the federal government. The accusations of having accused 12 Russians of having hacked Democratic accounts injured Hillary Clinton in 2016.

"I have great confidence in my intelligence, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful today. He just said that it was not Russia. I will say this: I see no reason why that would be, "said Trump.

His skepticism drew a quick formal statement – almost a rebuttal – from Trump's national intelligence director, Dan Coats. Our assessments of the Russian meddling in the 2016 elections and their ongoing and pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy are clear, and we will continue to provide objective information unabridged in support of our national security, "he said. Mr Coats said Republican Party politicians have generally stayed with Trump for a year and a half of agitation, but he was attacked as rarely before as he was returning home Monday night after that. he hoped to be a proud summit with Putin.

Senator John McCain of Arizona was the most frank, stating that Trump made a "conscious choice to defend a tyrant" and realized "one of the The most shameful representations by an American president in the memory. "House Speaker Paul Ryan, who rarely criticizes Tru Mp, pointed out that there were" no questions "that Russia had interfered with. [19659002] Even fid Else support Trump Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, called Trump's comments "the most serious mistake of his presidency" and said that they must be corrected. "

Former CIA director John Brennan, who served under President Barack Obama, called Trump's words" treason. "Brennan tweeted," Not only are Trump's comments foolish, but they are entirely in Putin's pocket. Republican patriots: Where are you ??? "

In a Fox News Channel interview after the summit, Putin said that the meetings" the beginning of the path "of the past efforts of the West to isolate Russia.

As he landed in Washington On board Air Force One, Trump attempted to clarify his position by tweet, saying, "As I have said today and several times before," I said. have a GREAT confidence in MY people of intelligence. & # 39; However, I also recognize that to build a better future, we can not focus exclusively on the past – as the two largest nuclear powers in the world we must along!

In their entirety, Trump's remarks represented an unprecedented embrace of a man who was isolated for years by the United States and Western allies for actions in Ukraine, Syria and the United States. -of the. And it was after an extraordinary trip to Europe in which Trump had already reprimanded his allies, questioned the value of the NATO alliance and belittled the leaders, including Germany's Angela Merkel and the British Theresa May

began with a private face-to-face – only the directors and their interpreters – that lasted more than two hours, before additional meetings were joined by senior staff.

The couple had already had long interviews – on the margins of the world. It was their first official summit and was closely watched, especially following the announcement on Friday of new indictments against 12 Russian intelligence officers accused of hacking emails. Democrats to help Trump's campaign

. the indictments, Putin suggested that Moscow and Washington could jointly conduct the investigation, by inviting special advocate Robert Mueller's investiga The Russian president said that he & # 39; s & rsquo; Was waiting for the United States to reciprocate and cooperate with the Russian investigation against William Browder, a Briton. investor accused of financial crimes in Russia. Browder, an open critic of Putin, was behind a US law targeting Russian officials on human rights violations.

The summit began a few hours after Trump accused the United States of America. "Our relationship with Russia has never been worse," Trump tweeted Monday morning, accusing "many years of American foolishness and foolishness and now, witch hunt!"

The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted by approving Trump's tweet and then replying, "We agree."

Asked if Russia was responsible at all, Trump said "we are all to blame" for the sour relations. "

Putin was ridiculed as" sheer nonsense "for allegations that Russian intelligence agencies had collected compromising information about Trump during his visit to Moscow years before the elected officials, yet Putin said that he had actually wanted Trump to win the election – a revelation that would have made more titles if not for Trump's performance – but had taken no action for "Yes, I wanted him to win" because he talked about the normalization of Russian-American relations, "said Putin." Is not it natural to feel sympathy for someone who wants to develop relations with our country? ? It's normal. "

At the closing press conference, Putin, after organizing a successful World Cup, unveiled a gift that he had brought for Trump: a red and white soccer ball that he Trump sent him to his wife and said that they would give it to their 12-year-old son, Barron, who loved football.

In the streets, the summit has drawn a bag of protesters, with abortion … rights activists carrying artificially inflated bellies and Trump masks, anti-fascist demonstrators carrying placards with insulting slurs, free merchants, Ukrainians anti -war and gay rights advocates making their voices heard / kga