In the face of the outcry, Trump forced to deny the words held alongside Putin

This was the new word used by Donald Trump's opponents: "treason". Betrayal of the United States for the benefit of Russia and the former KGB. The accusation was strong enough for the US president to turn around Tuesday, July 17, in Washington.

After estimating the previous day at a press conference in Helsinki that he had no reason to believe more its intelligence services – they accuse the Russians of interference in the US presidential election of 2016 – that Vladimir Putin, Mr. Trump has retracted his remarks.

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During a 15-minute statement to the White House, he explained that he read the script of his press conference and said very seriously that he should not hear as he said: "I see no reason why it would be Russia" but on the contrary "I see no reason why it would not be Russia"

President Trump: "I don 't see any reason why it would not be Russia … We are doing everything in our power to prevent … https://t.co/xnCq47v5aq

– WhiteHouse (@The White House)
   

"I have full confidence and support for US intelligence agencies " added Trump. I accept the US intelligence agencies' findings on the Russian intrusion into the 2016 election. "

The circumscribed fire – at least temporarily – allowed the White House tenant to return to the 'offensive. Against the Democrats, accusing his predecessor Barack Obama of not having fought the Russian invasion of 2016 because the Democratic Party was convinced that his candidate, Hillary Clinton, would win. On this point, he pledged to secure the mid-term election of November 2018. Against the special prosecutor Robert Mueller, who was not cited, to investigate the possible links between the team of Mr. Trump's campaign and the Russians: "There was no collusion" repeated the president, resuming a comment added to the black pen on his script.

Chanter of "the peace through force "

He also sought to defend his trip to Europe, during which he was criticized for dividing his allies and giving pledges in Moscow. First on the NATO summit, described as "success" because of the budget promises of Europeans; Mr. Trump felt that requiring his partners to pay their bill was not insulting them. On the United Kingdom, where he invoked "special relationship" and rejoiced to have met Queen Elizabeth II, "a wonderful person" .

And especially, on the summit with Mr. Putin, while the American president was accused of "weakness" in an editorial of Wall Street Journal . Mr. Trump wanted to be the champion of "peace through force" based on a prosperous economy and a record military budget. "Diplomacy and commitment are better than hostility and conflict" assured Trump, who said "getting along with Russia would be a good thing"

This tone is far from being shared in Washington, where an anti-Russian consensus is rapidly being forged. "The President must realize that Russia is not our ally" has declared the Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, who does not stand for re-election in November.

So much the denunciation of the Iranian nuclear agreement had provoked a protest limited to specialists, as the weakness against Mr Putin was not tenable, especially vis-à-vis the intelligence services which were disavowed.

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Crisis meeting

A correction was demanded by most of the great Republican elected officials, who affirmed their support for the intelligence services – there is "indisputable evidence" that Russia has attempted to influence the election of 2016, so declared the republican leader of the Senate Mitch McConnell.

According to the Wall Street Journal M. Trump began to realize the extent of the damage on his flight home from Helsinki on Air Force One. On Tuesday morning, seeing the reactions of the press and rereading the words held with Mr. Putin, he called a meeting of crisis including the Vice President Mike Pence, the National Security Advisor John Bolton Bill Shine, a former boss of Fox News – Trump's favorite channel – was very persuasive with the president, and he wrote the presidential statement. taking it several times. Mr. Trump was speaking "because enough of us had said it was unacceptable" said former Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gringrich, M's ally Trump, but on Twitter urged the billionaire to correct his mistake "immediately." "He is not one to go back very often. He looked at things and said we were right " commented Mr. Gringrich

John Kelly, White House chief of staff, urged a maximum of people outside the White House to put pressure on the president

A Republican sling is unlikely

However, few have dared to attack Mr. Trump directly. There were the usual suspects, such as the Arizona senator, John McCain – suffering from cancer – who estimated that "no American president had flattened so abject in front of a tyrant" . The New York Times has identified some elected Republicans regional outraged, but Tuesday early in the day, Democratic leaders were reduced to asking the Republicans to take their responsibilities and summon members of the Trump administration . "Words are not enough" said New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrats in the Senate. With less than four months of mid-term elections, a Republican sling in Congress was unlikely. It is now illusory with the retreat of Mr. Trump.

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The day gave rise to ongoing broadcasts on news channels, where Democratic commentators denounced the instability and incapacity of the occupier of the Oval Office and invited White House officials and councilors president to resign. This last point is, however, debated, the withdrawal of Gary Cohn, former economic adviser of the White House, for example, having facilitated the task of the president and his most protectionist advisers in the trade war initiated since the beginning of the year. 19659016] See also:
        
    
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The press did not reveal behind the scenes discussions with the various agency directors and within the Trump administration. The statement by Daniel Coats, director of national intelligence, says a lot about the tensions: "We were clear in our assessment of the Russian interference in the 2016 election and their efforts to undermine our democracy and we will continue to to provide objective and unvarnished intelligence in support of our national security " warned the former Republican senator appointed by Mr. Trump.

All Washington is also concerned about the reckless remarks that could have been made by Mr. Trump during his private meeting with Mr. Putin, in the absence of his advisers.