'Shocking': Former US Ambassador to Russia Slams Trump's Call With Putin
- 6 years ago
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has slammed President Trump's Thursday call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul slammed President Trump's Thursday call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It's shocking to me that the phone call gets to go through," McFaul said while suggesting that the president should have been advised against the call. "To me, this doesn't serve America's national interest to make that call, at least the way it's been read out so far."
Trump reportedly initiated the phone exchange after Putin, at a press appearance in Russia, praised the U.S. president on the recent economic growth.
A readout of the call by the White House says, in part, "President Trump thanked President Putin for acknowledging America's strong economic performance in his annual press conference."
Trump also described the call to reporters, "It was great. He said very nice things about what I've done for this country in terms of the economy, and then he said also some negative things in terms of what's going on elsewhere."
McFaul told MSNBC that Putin knows saying positive words about Trump can prompt such responses.
The president did add that North Korea was the main part of the conversation during the call.
Many have urged the president to take a more critical stance towards Putin in the wake of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election, but Trump has pushed back on those suggestions.
"When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump tweeted in November. "[They're] always playing politics - bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help!"
Former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul slammed President Trump's Thursday call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It's shocking to me that the phone call gets to go through," McFaul said while suggesting that the president should have been advised against the call. "To me, this doesn't serve America's national interest to make that call, at least the way it's been read out so far."
Trump reportedly initiated the phone exchange after Putin, at a press appearance in Russia, praised the U.S. president on the recent economic growth.
A readout of the call by the White House says, in part, "President Trump thanked President Putin for acknowledging America's strong economic performance in his annual press conference."
Trump also described the call to reporters, "It was great. He said very nice things about what I've done for this country in terms of the economy, and then he said also some negative things in terms of what's going on elsewhere."
McFaul told MSNBC that Putin knows saying positive words about Trump can prompt such responses.
The president did add that North Korea was the main part of the conversation during the call.
Many have urged the president to take a more critical stance towards Putin in the wake of Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election, but Trump has pushed back on those suggestions.
"When will all the haters and fools out there realize that having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump tweeted in November. "[They're] always playing politics - bad for our country. I want to solve North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, terrorism, and Russia can greatly help!"