Trump Defends Congratulatory Call To Putin: 'Obama Called Him Also'
- 6 years ago
In the wake of criticism, President Trump took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon and defended his congratulatory call to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In the wake of criticism, President Trump took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon and defended his congratulatory call to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong!" Trump tweeted.
"Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn't have the 'smarts.' Obama and Clinton tried, but didn't have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!" the president added.
In response to the tweets, Josh Dawsey with the Washington Post pointed out that it was Trump's own advisers who warned against making such a call.
Meanwhile, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman noted, "Obama also didn't call after the [intelligence community] determined Russia had meddled in a US election."
Many Republicans were among those who criticized Trump's phone exchange with Putin.
"When I look at a Russian election, what I see is a lack of credibility in tallying the results," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "Calling him wouldn't have been high on my list."
Republican Senator John McCain also issued a statement slamming Trump. "An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections," McCain said. "And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election to determine their country's future, including the countless Russian patriots who have risked so much to protest and resist Putin's regime." The call in question occurred two days after Putin won the race by an overwhelming margin, garnering 76% of the vote.
In the wake of criticism, President Trump took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon and defended his congratulatory call to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also). The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong!" Trump tweeted.
"Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race. Bush tried to get along, but didn't have the 'smarts.' Obama and Clinton tried, but didn't have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!" the president added.
In response to the tweets, Josh Dawsey with the Washington Post pointed out that it was Trump's own advisers who warned against making such a call.
Meanwhile, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman noted, "Obama also didn't call after the [intelligence community] determined Russia had meddled in a US election."
Many Republicans were among those who criticized Trump's phone exchange with Putin.
"When I look at a Russian election, what I see is a lack of credibility in tallying the results," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "Calling him wouldn't have been high on my list."
Republican Senator John McCain also issued a statement slamming Trump. "An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections," McCain said. "And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election to determine their country's future, including the countless Russian patriots who have risked so much to protest and resist Putin's regime." The call in question occurred two days after Putin won the race by an overwhelming margin, garnering 76% of the vote.