You probably heard that yesterday, Trump bizarrely thanked Putin for expelling US diplomats from Russia.
You may recall the back-story to this. On July 30, even before Trump reluctantly signed the bi-partisan renewed sanctions bill, Putin demanded that Trump remove 755 diplomats of the supposed 1000 employed there. Trump, who usually throws a tantrum at any perceived affront, said ...not a word.
Until yesterday.
What on earth?
First, a few facts:
1. Putin doesn't employ American Diplomats in our Russian Embassy and therefore cannot "let go" of them. Putin was demanding you do his bidding, big boy!
2. The people Putin demanded Trump remove from our embassy are career members of our foreign service. They will be re-assigned and remain on the US payroll.
Trump's words caused much bewilderment and distress,especially in diplomatic circles, with professionals of both parties weighing in.
Reuters reported that people at the State Department were "horrified and rattled" by Trump's response.
Many took Trump's words as a sign of weakness and continued obeisance to Putin.
For example, a State Dept. official who is a foreign service officer told ABC News the message from Trump thanking Putin is "really quite sad."
"I'm not even angry, it's just saddening," the official said, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official cited what they say is the perception among State Dept. employees that Trump does not support the institution or its diplomats abroad and a sense that "he just doesn't get it."
Harvard University professor Nicholas Burns, who was ambassador to NATO and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs under President George W. Bush, called Trump's comments disrespectful.
A former U.S. ambassador also noted a pattern in the comments: "For reasons we do not yet know, the President cannot bring himself to criticize Putin."
Laurence Tribe, professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law School and the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard University, quickly speculated on what causes Trump's ongoing deference to the Russian leader
Others commented too.
The former world champion chess champion Gary Kasparov, a long time Putin adversary, had this to say.
Twitter favorite, @TeaPainUSA, spoke comparably.
Today, as the world was spinning as a result of Trump's strange behavior, Trump spokespeople walked his homage to Putin back, saying he was just being sarcastic.
You may recall that on June 26, 2017, Sean Spicer did this same thing, claiming that Trump was only fooling around during the campaign when he said he said he hoped Russia would look for Hillary Clinton's deleted State Department emails.
"[Trump] was joking at the time. We all know that."
This was one of many "jokes" they have walked back, including "jokes" encouraging violence , obstructing justice, and more.
Ha, ha.
Are you laughing?
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August 11, 2017
