There comes a time when a president should listen to the people around him. Presidents bring people on their staff to advise. They want people who know what they’re doing around at all times because while the president makes the final decision, he takes into consideration what he’s told by the people who know best.
Donald Trump called Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his “election” win. And he did so against the advice of national security advisers.
Shocker.
President Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers when he congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday on his reelection, including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call.
Trump also chose not to heed talking points from aides instructing him to condemn Putin about the recent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom with a powerful nerve agent, a case that both the British and U.S. governments have blamed on Moscow.
What is this infatuation Trump has with Putin?
Of course, people (ie Trumpies) are whipping out the, “But Obama did it too!” excuse. Ok, so Obama did it. I thought Trump was big tough, strong guy. According to Trump, Obama did what he did because he was “weak.”
Well, how weak is it to ignore the advice of the people around you know better?
Trump’s congratulatory call earned a well-earned rebuke from Senator McCain:
The president’s tone drew a rebuke from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, who wrote on Twitter: “An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. 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.”
Good for him.
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