Putin reasserts his authority over Trump, reminding him where his true loyalties lie

by Joan McCarter

Daily Kos Staff

Monday, Sep. 30, 2019 Monday, Sep. 30, 2019 at 7:37:30am PDT

TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin attend a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) — That's not a friendly smile.

If there was any question at this point that Russian President Vladimir Putin owns Donald Trump, this puts it to rest.

MOSCOW, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Washington would need Russian consent to publish transcripts of phone calls between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) September 30, 2019

That’s not a statement of fact from the Kremlin. The U.S. remains a sovereign nation, Trump’s efforts notwithstanding. No, that’s a direct warning to Trump. It’s an assertion that Putin made him, and that he can break him.