Donald Trump has his mind on Russia again Tuesday morning, Bolstered by a series of quotes provided in his real morning briefing—the one that comes while he watches Fox & Friends in his PJs—Trump was able to engage in his favorite pastime: Comparing himself favorably to President Obama.
Shall we? How about we start with the fact that Barack Obama responded to Russian meddling by gathering legislative leaders and suggesting tough action. Action that was blocked by one man in particular.
In September, during a secret briefing for congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voiced doubts about the veracity of the intelligence, according to officials present.
Even without the support of Republicans in Congress, President Obama took what action he could, seizing two Russian diplomatic compounds and expelling 35 Russian diplomats. It also happens that Barack Obama signed the Magnitsky Act—the sanctions against Russian oligarchs that was part of that Trump Tower discussion between Trump’s campaign and a team from Russia.
And now … Trump. Congress overwhelmingly passed sanctions against Russia all the way back in July, with just two senators and three members of the House voting against. By October, Congress was complaining that Trump still hadn’t issued any sanctions, and wouldn’t even tell them why. Trump continued to sit on the sanctions past deadlines in November. And December. Then in January, Trump finally acted.
The Trump administration informed lawmakers Monday that new Russia sanctions called for in a bipartisan bill passed last year are not necessary yet because the measure is already "serving as a deterrent."
Oh yeah. Trump did … nothing. Nothing is extremely “tough.”
What are some other ways that Trump has been tough on Russia? Well, he’s interrupted Vladimir Putin’s schedule by making impromptu calls to the Russian autocrat. Very, very tough calls.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to thank him for comments he made about the President's efforts to grow the American economy.
Trump, speaking with reporters at the White House before he left to address a graduation ceremony at the National FBI Academy, said the call was "great."
And Trump has told Putin that he believes him, instead of all those stupid heads in US intelligence that keep trying to get him to read something every day.
Trump said he took Putin at his word that Russia did not seek to interfere in the US presidential election last year, despite a finding from US intelligence agencies that it did. The fraught relations between the two leaders was underscored anew when Putin's spokesman initially said election meddling did not come up when they spoke, even though Trump said it did.
And Trump was so, so tough on Putin, that he decided that there was one thing he definitely had to do.
President Donald Trump suggested on Saturday he's done confronting Russian President Vladimir Putin over his country's election meddling since it's insulting to the Russian leader.
Yes. We wouldn’t want to hurt Vladimir Putin’s feelings. After all, Trump is tough, but he’s not a monster.
So Trump has: Failed to implement any sanctions against Russia, called up Putin to exchange compliments, believed Russia over his own intelligence agencies, and stopped mentioning anything about the Russian meddling in the US election to protect Putin’s delicate fee-fees. You better believe that’s tough. Or, wait. That’s actually tough to believe.
Maybe the “Total Fake News!” part of Trump’s tweet was a comment on the first part.