The top trending topic on Twitter on Monday morning is #TreasonSummit which gives you a good idea of the attitude of the public concerning today’s meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
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Even Hillary Clinton weighed in on Twitter, as she asked Trump which “team” he plays for. She tweeted:
“Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”
Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 16, 2018
Trump had also commented on the World Cup, using it as an opportunity to suck up to Putin one more time:
“Congratulations to France, who played extraordinary soccer, on winning the 2018 World Cup. Additionally, congratulations to President Putin and Russia for putting on a truly great World Cup Tournament — one of the best ever!â€
Congratulations to France, who played extraordinary soccer, on winning the 2018 World Cup. Additionally, congratulations to President Putin and Russia for putting on a truly great World Cup Tournament — one of the best ever!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2018
Of course everyone knows that Trump never criticizes Putin for anything, even for committing acts of war against the United States. Which is why he also tweeted that the U.S. was at fault for bad relations with Russia.
“Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!â€
Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
He also found time to blame Obama and Hillary for “Russian Meddling:”
“President Obama thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI about Russian Meddling, he said it couldn’t happen, was no big deal, & did NOTHING about it. When I won it became a big deal and the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by Strzok!â€
President Obama thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI about Russian Meddling, he said it couldn’t happen, was no big deal, & did NOTHING about it. When I won it became a big deal and the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by Strzok!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
The Russian foreign ministry “liked†Trump’s comments on Twitter, which is an indication of the audience that Trump was hoping to please. In addition, the Kremlin said it did not expect much from the meeting but hoped it would be a “first step†to resolving a crisis in ties.
“Presidents Trump and Putin respect each other and they get along well,†Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “There is no clear agenda. It will be determined by the heads of state themselves as they go along.â€
Apparently there will be no discussion about Putin and Russia annexing Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, interfering in Western elections or poisoning people in England. Whatever the agenda is, Putin will probably set it.
Of course Russia has denied interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The state RIA news agency quoted a Russian source as saying Moscow was “ready to discuss, ready to undertake mutual obligations of non-intervention into internal mattersâ€.
Trump did say he would raise the election meddling issue in the summit but does not expect to get anywhere. He has said that Putin denies it, so of course Trump believes Putin instead of his own U.S. intelligence services, the Department of Justice, and the FBI. He also said he has nothing to do with it since the meddling happened before he became president.
Germany’s foreign minister said on Monday Europe can’t rely on Trump.
“We can no longer completely rely on the White House,†Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group. “To maintain our partnership with the USA we must readjust it. The first clear consequence can only be that we need to align ourselves even more closely in Europe.â€
Trump predicted he will be accused of being too easy on Putin no matter how the summit goes. And it’s true, he will be criticized by many for even talking to the Russian dictator. But the fact that he is even holding the #TreasonSummit has already given Vladimir Putin the victory that he wanted.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
