Trump Went Rogue, Defied Aides, National Security Team’s Advice To Be Tough On Putin

HELSINKI, FINLAND - JULY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions about the 2016 U.S Election collusion during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their summit on July 16, 2... HELSINKI, FINLAND - JULY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions about the 2016 U.S Election collusion during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their summit on July 16, 2018 in Helsinki, Finland. The two leaders met one-on-one and discussed a range of issues including the 2016 U.S Election collusion. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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In the days leading up to his planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, aides spent hours preparing President Donald Trump to take a tough stance on Putin, advice that was largely ignored by the President, The Washington Post reported.

According to one person familiar with the planning who spoke to the Post, Trump’s behavior during the press conference with Putin was “very much counter to the plan.” Another person familiar with the discussions said ahead of the meeting the President was bombarded with messages about Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its election interference and was surrounded by advisers who told him to posture strong against Putin.

Prominent members of Trump’s national security team, like National Security Adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, even tried to push Trump to take a hard stance against Putin or at the very least, look at Putin in a less rosy light.  

But Trump “made a game-time decision” to blame both the U.S. and Russia for disintegrated relations and to publicly support Putin’s denials of Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to the Post. One official who spoke with the newspaper denied that Trump’s remarks in Finland were autonomous.

Read the Post’s full report here. 

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  1. Of course he did, and who can blame him? Everyone is saying that no-one is smarter than Trump, believe me.

  2. In other words, he did whatever the hell he felt like doing. Just another day in his world.

    I’m sure he’s wondering why no one is fellating him for every word he said like they did when he was in the business world.

    Following that, I’m sure he doesn’t care.

  3. Does anyone else notice that in the accompanying photograph, he’s starting to look old and exhausted? Ronny Jackson should have another look at him.

  4. I haven’t heard a lot about his much-vaunted “political instincts” since he decided he was going to let Trump be Trump because he had gotten so good at the game. It’s been one sickening disaster after another. Nowadays it’s all don’t touch the hot stove Mr. President. Why not? It will burn you. Maybe it won’t? IT WILL BURN YOU. (Touches stove) Ow ow ow nobody knew stoves were hot and they weren’t until the fake news witch hunt, rinse and repeat.

  5. Just how stupid do these people want to appear?

    According to one personal familiar with the planning who spoke to the Post, Trump’s behavior during a press conference with Putin were “very much counter to the plan.”

    Whose plan?

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