Democratic and Republican lawmakers rip Donald Trump for throwing America under a bus and siding with Russia in the most disgraceful press briefing a US president has ever given.
House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement, “There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally.”
“There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi said, “President Trump’s weakness in front of Putin was embarrassing, and proves that the Russians have something on the President, personally, financially or politically. This is a sad day for America, and for all Western democracies that Putin continues to target.”
Abby Huntsman, Fox News host and the daughter of US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, slammed Trump: “No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.”
No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.
— Abby Huntsman (@HuntsmanAbby) July 16, 2018
Former CIA director John Brennan slammed Trump: “Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of “high crimes & misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???”
Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of “high crimes & misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) July 16, 2018
Reaction from lawmakers:
Vladimir Putin is not our friend and never has been. Nor does he want to be our friend. His regime’s actions prove it. pic.twitter.com/W95VPf9T8Y
— Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) July 16, 2018
Rep. Trey Gowdy, chair of oversight, who played a key role in the Intelligence Committee's investigation has a pretty forceful statement too pic.twitter.com/q6f8z8nqXl
— Eliza Collins (@elizacollins1) July 16, 2018
For the president of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defense officials, and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous, and weak. The president is putting himself over our country.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 16, 2018
Top D on Senate Foreign Relations Cmte, @SenatorMenendez: "The incoherent and appallingly self-serving circus in Helsinki today was as predictable as it was avoidable. The President rejected his solemn duty to uphold and defend American values, ideals and citizens." pic.twitter.com/OOgD0bsVAp
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) July 16, 2018
President Trump just attacked our intelligence agencies and law enforcement for doing their jobs while standing next to a dictator who intervened in our election to help elect Trump.
Putin will take this as a green light to interfere in 2018, and it is. Cowardly and shameful.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 16, 2018
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) July 16, 2018
Hatch on the Trump/Putin summit in Helsinki:
“Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Our nation’s top intelligence agencies all agree on that point. From the President on down, we must do everything in our power to protect our democracy.." (1/3)
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) July 16, 2018
.@realDonaldTrump's statements today are deeply unnerving, as is his abandonment of many of our closest allies in recent days.
Read my entire statement: https://t.co/wL0Xslfsap #HelsinkiSummit— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) July 16, 2018
President Trump’s press conference with Putin was an embarrassing spectacle. Rather than make clear that interference in our elections is unacceptable, Trump instead accepted Putin’s denials and cast doubt on the conclusions of our intelligence community. This is not normal.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 16, 2018
Putin directed an attack on our American democracy & Russia interfered with our elections
President Trump needs to stop treating Putin like a friend and start holding him accountable
Instead of standing with Putin, the President should stand up for America and our democracy
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) July 16, 2018
The President was asked specifically if he believes his intelligence officers or Putin. He refused to side with the Americans who have dedicated their lives to serving our country. Instead he chose to side with the man who attacked our democracy.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) July 16, 2018
Putin doesn't need a bugged soccer ball in the White House. He already has a Russian asset sitting behind the Resolute desk… https://t.co/UO0uo4x8py https://t.co/G882OB80dY
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) July 16, 2018
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am deeply troubled by President Trump’s defense of Putin against the intelligence agencies of the U.S. & his suggestion of moral equivalence between the U.S. and Russia. Russia poses a grave threat to our national security.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) July 16, 2018
The fact is that the Russian government attempted to undermine our democracy in 2016. I’m stunned the President refused to acknowledge that on the world stage or defend American interests against Putin. #TrumpPutinSummit https://t.co/dmEplmCMLs
— Jim Langevin (@JimLangevin) July 16, 2018
Oh boy, @realDonaldTrump. Holding “both countries” responsible is the wrong, equivocal, indefensible blame both sides defense. Let’s call this what it is: taking the word of a tyrant over that of our own DNI chief. Like many things, I prefer our intel American-made https://t.co/txATbDL175
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) July 16, 2018
Thanks for the reminder, @Casey_Clemmons – He posted this almost 18 months ago. Said another observer: "Today the president of America and Russia stood next to one another and stood up for one another."@dnc #TrumpRussiaCollusion #specialcounsel #PutinPuppet #followthefacts https://t.co/ml0wfPUiFu
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) July 16, 2018
#ImpeachmentIsNotDead https://t.co/5XqSKNX4cY
— Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) July 16, 2018
This Mueller investigation, which the President calls a "rigged witch hunt," just produced the indictment of 12 Russian military intelligence members for an act of cyber war attacking our democracy. How is Putin supposed to take it seriously when Trump mocks the whole enterprise? https://t.co/htbWvoPkiq
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) July 16, 2018
Dear @realDonaldTrump, you said you don’t see any reason to believe Russia was behind the attack on our elections.
Here. Are. The. Reasons.
It’s a 25 pg document but the report is just 5 pages. PLEASE READ THEM.
Or is there some other reason you don’t want to believe it?
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) July 16, 2018
Today, President Trump blamed the U.S., praised Putin, and did a real disservice to America. Such a shocking, dangerous, and weak break from the actions of past Presidents of both parties. Putin is not our friendly 'competitor.' He’s an adversary who hacked our democracy.
— Senator Jack Reed (@SenJackReed) July 16, 2018
(4/4) This not how a President acts. He is abandoning American interests to protect Russia. It's time for Congressional Republicans to stand on the side of
evidence.— André Carson (@RepAndreCarson) July 16, 2018
Foreign policy must be based on reality,not hyperbole or wishful thinking. And the reality is #Russia is an adversary. Because #Putin doesn’t believe in win/win scenarios & thinks only way to make Russia stronger is to make U.S. weaker. Any approach not based on this will fail.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 16, 2018
Trump has, indeed, become Putin’s puppet. It is dangerous, disingenuous & absurd for a U.S. president to take the word of #Putin over our intelligence community. Further, @POTUS statements undermining @FBI and shifting blame for Russian misdeeds are outrageous. #TrumpPutin pic.twitter.com/d5rOX8ZQl5
— Rep. Diana DeGette (@RepDianaDeGette) July 16, 2018
On the world stage, President Trump said he believes Vladimir Putin over our own intelligence agencies. Another disgraceful embarrassment that all Republicans should denounce, but likely won’t. Why?
— Jim Cooper (@repjimcooper) July 16, 2018
We just witnessed the President of the United States abdicate his national security responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief. When he was given the chance to hold Putin accountable and condemn Russia's interference in our elections, he refused.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) July 16, 2018
Hey guys remember when this happened? #PutinPuppet #SpecialCounsel #trumprussiacollusion @HouseDemocrats @DNC #HelsinkiSummit pic.twitter.com/2hz9F43TTJ
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) July 16, 2018
I wish I was surprised by Trump's deference to Putin, but it's been clear that the President would rather trust his Russian "friend" than the US intelligence community – the question that remains is why. The Mueller investigation is no witch hunt & that’s why he's so scared of it
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) July 16, 2018
Because of @POTUS reckless and disgusting behavior, the entire week has been a disaster for American leadership and our standing in the world. What will it finally take for my #Republican colleagues in Congress to stop covering for this President and stand up for our country?
— Eliot Engel (@RepEliotEngel) July 16, 2018
If you're on the Trump national security team, and you've been out there saying how strong Trump is on Russia and how serious our commitment is to NATO, how do you not resign after the last four days?
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) July 16, 2018
Is it not treasonous to side with an adversary over your own law enforcement agencies?
The President stood next to our adversary and made nice. The same adversary that attacked us in a cyber war, and all @POTUS talked about was 30,000 Clinton emails.
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) July 16, 2018
.@POTUS accepted the brazen lies of #Putin over the unanimous conclusions of America’s intelligence and law enforcement communities. These actions are especially egregious coming only days after #Mueller indicted 12 Putin-directed operatives for interfering in the 2016 election.
— Eliot Engel (@RepEliotEngel) July 16, 2018
The whole world just watched as the President sided with Putin over U.S. Intelligence Agencies. There is no doubt that Putin has launched attacks on the very heart of our democracy, and by not standing up to him today, the President has invited him to do it again.
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) July 16, 2018
This is a shameful day. @POTUS's false equivalence between the US & Russia was an absolute disgrace. It is beyond comprehension that Pres. Trump refuses to hold Russia accountable for its attacks on our democratic process, especially after the most recent series of indictments.
— Nita Lowey (@NitaLowey) July 16, 2018
Democratic and Republican Lawmakers Rip Donald Trump for Throwing America Under a Bus
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