Ted Miller wrote “After Putin Summit, It’s Time We Start Seriously Calling Trump A Traitor,” that was written on July 16, 2018 following the Helsinki summit between the US president and Vladimir Putin. Our Australian friend David, who lives in Tasmania inspired this piece after sending me the picture of the US president hugging the American flag with a “look at me, I’m hugging the flag expression” on his face.
Here are some excerpts. The entire article can be linked to below.
“At an over two-hour joint press conference with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump criticized the American intelligence community that overwhelming confirms Russian interference to get him elected.
Trump said:
‘They [American intelligence] said they think it’s Russia; I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be. I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.’
Predictably, Trump then meandered into a red-herring deflection about Hillary Clinton’s emails and the Democratic National Committee’s email server.
No one other than Trump’s most stubborn supporters are buying it anymore.
Former CIA director, John Brennan, tweeted:
‘Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes & misdemeanors.’ It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin.’
Calling out fellow Republicans, Brennan added:
‘Republican Patriots: Where are you???’
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stated:
‘Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naivety, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake.
Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are – a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad.’
Even House Speaker Paul Ryan, not known to openly condemn the president as often as he should, said:
‘The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.’
Senate Minority Leader, Charles Schmer (D-NY), concurred:
‘In the entire history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an American adversary the way President Trump has supported President Putin. For the president of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defense officials, and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous, and weak. The president is putting himself over our country.’
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) echoed his colleagues’ sentiments, tweeting:
‘I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression. This is shameful.’
And from Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.):
‘This is bizarre and flat-out wrong. The United States is not to blame. America wants a good relationship with the Russian people but Vladimir Putin and his thugs are responsible for Soviet-style aggression. When the President plays these moral equivalence games, he gives Putin a propaganda win he desperately needs.’
But lawmakers and intelligence officials are not the only ones accusing Trump of being weak in front of Vladimir Putin. Even members of Trump’s own staff thought that as well.
The Daily Beast quotes a Trump political appointee:
‘I honestly had little to no good expectations for this. [The event] went about as well as I expected. Trump looked incredibly weak up there. Putin looks like a champion. I’d like to say I’m shocked but this is the world in which we live now.’
Yes, even Fox News turned on the president.
During an interview, with host Neil Cavuto, Former Dep. Asst. Attorney General Tom Dupree, said on Fox Business:
‘All well and good for the president to talk about the Strzok and server and Hillary Clinton and all of that. But this wasn’t the time and the place this is the time and place for the president to look Putin squarely in the eye and said you will be punished for what you did in 2016, don’t ever think about doing that again.’
Cavuto said:
‘But he didn’t. That made it disgusting. That made his performance disgusting. Only way I feel. Not a right or left thing to me. It is wrong. U.S. President foreign soil talking to our biggest enemy or adversary or competitor, I don’t know how we define them away, essentially letting the guy get away with this, not even, offering a mild, a mild criticism. That sets us back a lot.’
Fox and Friends Weekend host Abby Huntsman tweeted:
‘No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus. For Trump, apparently it’s Russia first.'”
It should be noted, just last week, the Senate Intelligence Committee not only confirmed the findings in the Mueller report, they said there was a formal tie between the Trump campaign and Russia. Paul Manafort, Trump campaign manager for over four months had communications with a Russian agent. It should be noted Manafort was indicted for fraud and lying and went to jail for other actions, uncovered by the Mueller report. Note, during Manafort’s time, the Republican platform softened some wording toward Russia. Why?
Also, last Friday over 70 former intelligence officials who worked for Republican presidents have cited the security risk which is Donald Trump in a full page piece in the Wall Street Journal. They are supporting Joe Biden. And, last week, Miles Taylor, a former Dept. of Homeland Security Chief of Staff under Trump noted the same conclusion and support of Biden, adding we are less secure under Trump because our allied relationships are weaker and our enemies are stronger.
I want Trump supporters to tell me why this is not a concern to them and not just cite the president’s wont to name call critics. When people say Trump is dangerous, it is people in the know who are saying it. It is not fake news. These are real people with real concerns.
Here is the link: https://liberalamerica.life/2018/07/16/tm-after-putin-summit-its-time-we-start-seriously-calling-trump-a-traitor/
musingsofanoldfart 
The handwriting has been on the wall since before his election in November 2016, and yet there is an unmovable contingent who continue to sing his praises. I have the same questions as you do: WHY??? Great post, Keith. Thanks!
Thanks Jill. I think Trump sycophants and supporters must tell us why this is not a problem for them.
PS – I think we can reinforce others’ opinions with those of “his sister, the judge.” I think that description should be wielded like a hammer to drive home the point.
I agree … but will they? CAN they?
I read this morning, over half the convention speakers will be his children and their spouses. That is telling by itself.
Added to Mary’s T comments/book about Uncle Don, sister Maryanne’s recorded comments were, um, err very interesting. Wouldn’t it be a hoot for the person who took Don’s SAT to now come forward and allege he is yet to be paid. We live in hope.
David, my guess is he has been paid twice, once for so doing, and later for his silence. One of the troubling things about Michael Cohen (Trump fixer/ attorney) when he testified under oath to Congress, is he sent over 500 cease and desist letters threatening lawsuit to any entities or individuals who may have damaging information on the president – schools, business partners, sexual misconduct victims, etc. Keith
surely he could have a ‘road to Damascus’ epiphany or a deathbed confession to avoid the consequences of any NDA?
David, have you heard The Eagles last album called “Out of Eden?” It is one of their best. The title song is by Don Henley. Your reference to road to Damascus would fit right in. He also had a great song “Frail grasp on the big picture.” Keith
Keith, perhaps the biggest disconnect can be found in a recent survey that showed 57% of Republicans thought that 175k deaths from pandemic was acceptable. That’s compared to 67% of Indies and 90% of Democrats who said it was not. If that doesn’t show you the absolute cultish nature of millions of his supporters, nothing does. Truly astounding.
Jeff, that is one sad statistic. Here is the follow-up question. Will feel they same when the number becomes 250,000 or 350,000? It is not static.
Also, as minister John Pavlovitz notes, shouldn’t Christians be the first to wear masks to protect people. What I have learned is places that ignored the COVID-19 hoax BS spewed by Trump as late as February 28, have done better through planning. My favorite story is an ED of a Baptist Home for the Aged heard the president cite his hoax BS and knew he needed to do the opposite. To date, this home has avoided any COVID-19 cases.
Keith
Yes. DO NOT listen to this man under any circumstances. Or, at the very very least, do some research and find out for yourself. I have no doubt that through his own incompetence and failure to act, thousands of lives have been senselessly lost. He cannot get reelected. Period.
Agreed. Even today, there are fans of his who call this a hoax. A friend who has COPD is telling me it is a hoax. If she gets it, she will not fare well, unfortunately.