The reviews are coming in after President Donald Trump’s joint press briefing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and they are decidedly negative.
Limited in part by the fact that many members of Congress were returning to Washington from their home districts, the responses that did come attacked Trump on his embracing Putin’s assertion that Russia did not interfere in the U.S. election.
Related: President says Putin denial of election interference was ‘powerful’[1]
From Democrats, there was uniform scorn:
In the entire history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an American adversary the way @realDonaldTrump[2] has supported President Putin.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer)
That was disturbing. Shameful. Jaw-dropping. Disgraceful. I am running out of words to describe how despicable it is to see an American President capitulate to a dictator. #Helsinki[4]
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez)
#Helsinki[6] was our moment to hold Russia accountable, to stand up for the US, democracy & the foundation of our gov't: free & fair elections. Trump disgraced the people & institutions that work in our defense by instead showing his loyalty to Putin. Both disgusting and dangerous.
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark)
Why does President Trump continue to side with Vladimir Putin over our intelligence agencies? He spent today’s press conference attacking the United States and defending Russia. It was a shameful display that will only embolden Putin’s aggression. #TrumpPutinSummit2018 https://t.co/DlhI4VNzdW[8][9]
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider)
Trump's "both sides" statement exposes his continued inability to hold people accountable for wrongdoing. To suggest mutual blame when we just indicted their intelligence officers means he’s abandoned reality to parrot Putin’s talking points. #TreasonSummit https://t.co/GCN4Xr7NEC[11][12]
— Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie)
Republicans also offered criticism, though less aggressively. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is retiring, said the president must appreciate that Russia is not an ally and “there is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia.”
Two other retiring Republicans, Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Orrin Hatch of Utah, also voiced negative opinions.
I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression. This is shameful.
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake)
Hatch on the Trump/Putin summit...