Trump’s statement putting in doubt the findings of CIA and FBI about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 elections received massive criticism in the United States, even from the Republican Party
US President Donald Trump (L) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin smile as they attend a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. (Photo: AFP)
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his much talked about meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on 16 July was even better than the annual NATO summit he attended in Brussels.
“While I had a great meeting with NATO, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia,” Trump posted on Twitter.
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“Sadly, it is not being reported that way – the Fake News is going Crazy!” he added, lashing out at the media that crtiicised his government.
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While I had a great meeting with NATO, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia. Sadly, it is not being reported that way – the Fake News is going Crazy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2018
“The meeting between President Putin and myself was a great success, except in the Fake News Media!” Trump said in another tweet ten hours later.
The meeting between President Putin and myself was a great success, except in the Fake News Media!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018
At the NATO summit in Brussels, Trump demanded a greater contribution to defense funding by the allies of America.
I had a great meeting with NATO. They have paid $33 Billion more and will pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars more in the future, only because of me. NATO was weak, but now it is strong again (bad for Russia). The media only says I was rude to leaders, never mentions the money!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2018
READ | Helsinki summit: No concrete results, but Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin content
The statements issued by the President after his controversial meeting with Putin received massive criticism in the United States, even from his own Republican Party.
At a joint press statement with Putin, Trump almost questioned the conclusions of US intelligence services that the Kremlin had interfered in the 2016 US presidential elections to benefit him and undermine the chances of Hillary Clinton.
US intelligence agencies CIA and FBI have always said they have proof that Russia tried to interfere in the election, though could not influence the final result.
READ | US-Russia ties should not be held hostage to Mueller probe: Putin
Trump however told the media that he didn’t see “any reason” why Russia would have wanted to meddle in the American electoral process. “President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be,” said the US President.
He even said Putin was “extremely strong and powerful in his denial”.
Trump’s statement supporting Putin has invited a lot of flak in the US, including that of former CIA directors Michael Hayden and John Brennan, and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.
In Helsinki, Putin described the probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Moscow’s election meddling as “political games”, which he said should not be permitted to interfere with US-Russia ties.
(With agency inputs)
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