While it appears that most Republicans overwhelmingly approve of the disastrous way president Donald Trump behaved during his press conference with Russian president Vladimir Putin, many are horrified — and this includes both current and former U.S. diplomats.
One particularly infuriating moment came when Putin tried to get out of answering a question about the 12 Russians who were recently indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In doing so, the Russian leader brought up Bill Browder, whose revelation of Russian tax fraud resulted in a U.S. human rights sanctions law that Putin wants to get rid of.
Right under Trump’s nose, Putin accused Browder of putting together an illegal campaign donation to then-candidate Hillary Clinton, stating that he had “solid reason to believe that some intelligence officers guided these transactions.” While Trump did absolutely nothing to defend America, Putin said that if Trump allowed Russia investigate Browder, he might let Mueller’s team be “present at questioning” of the intelligence officers.
A few days after the presser, Russian prosecutors upped the ante when the prosecutor general’s office stated that it wanted to interview Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia — and the White House didn’t say no.
In reaction to Trump’s unwillingness to stand up to Putin, McFaul was one of the first to fire back after the White House said it might allow Russia to interview him.
I hope the White House corrects the record and denounces in categorical terms this ridiculous request from Putin. Not doing so creates moral equivalency between a legitimacy US indictment of Russian intelligence officers and a crazy, completely fabricated story invented by Putin https://t.co/K1ZvrNwTu3
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 18, 2018
Many others have had strong reactions as well. One serving diplomat said he was “at a f*cking loss” over what he witnessed. The U.S. diplomat said:
It’s beyond disgraceful. It’s fundamentally ignorant with regard to how we conduct diplomacy or what that means. It really puts in jeopardy the professional independence of diplomats anywhere in the world, if the consequence of their actions is going to be potentially being turned over to a foreign government.”
Another U.S. diplomat, who asked not to be named, said:
The president has first and foremost his interests at the top of his mind, as opposed to the government’s. That’s very clear over the past week and a half, between shitting on our NATO allies and kissing Putin’s ass. He cares more about himself than the nation and any of us who serve it.”
Either he’s compromised by Putin or he’s a pussy, in which case he should grab himself.”
David Wade, former Secretary of State John Kerry’s chief of staff said:
To even hint that there’s some element of credibility to Russian disruptions and distractions puts a bullseye on the back of any diplomat and invites authoritarian regimes to bully and threaten American public servants for the crime of doing their job. No administration should require a lesson or reminder in why this is reprehensible.”
Ron Neumann, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, said:
If the U.S. would make a former diplomat available for questioning by a foreign government without evidence of wrongdoing, then that would be quite horrifying.”
Trump’s submissive behavior in regard to Putin has truly made everyone wonder what Russia could have on the president. Trump has done nothing to defend America — in fact, he has actively attacked his own country to protect Russia. If Trump does not stand up to Russia, he and the GOP are in for a big surprise in November.
Featured image via screen capture
