From ‘say again’ to ‘war criminal’: Bizarre pearls of anti-Putin frenzy sparked by Trump’s invite
Breaking news that President Vladimir Putin may come to the US this fall came out of the blue for many Trump haters and Russia bashers. Here are some of the mad rants from the full-throttle frenzy engulfing America’s elite.
A carefully-worded White House statement that confirmed Putin is likely to visit Washington on the invitation of Donald Trump has triggered an avalanche of fiery attacks on both leaders.
Director of National Intelligence Dat Coats provided the most ‘measured’ of those responses. News that Trump and Putin are likely to meet in Washington simply caught him off-guard while he was speaking at the Aspen Security Forum on Thursday.
In Helsinki, @POTUS agreed to ongoing working level dialogue between the two security council staffs. President Trump asked @Ambjohnbolton to invite President Putin to Washington in the fall and those discussions are already underway.
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) July 19, 2018
The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media. I look forward to our second meeting so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed, including stopping terrorism, security for Israel, nuclear........
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2018
“Say that again?” Coats offered, after the moderator told him of the announcement. “OK. That's going to be special,” he added with a grimace. Coats had uttered just a few words to show he was shell-shocked with the prospect of Trump meeting Putin again. Other bigwigs in the US establishment were far more articulate.
“Trump wants to invite Putin – the individual responsible for spearheading the attack on our democracy – to the White House on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections,” Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, tweeted. Going on, she lambasted the Republicans, claiming they refuse to protect “our election systems.”
Trump wants to invite Putin – the individual responsible for spearheading the attack on our democracy – to the White House on the eve of the 2018 midterm elections.Meanwhile, Republicans in Washington dangerously *refuse* to protect our election systems.We cannot afford this.
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) July 19, 2018
Rep. Eric Swalwell, member of the House Intelligence Committee, urged followers to “stay loud” and make sure Putin and Trump “are not alone” when they meet at the White House.
When Putin & Trump meet at the White House this fall, let’s make sure this time they’re not alone. They should hear all of our voices outside. #StayLoud
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 19, 2018
While politicians – at least the ones with the status of Coats or Pelosi – do stick to some degree of civility, some media figures do not.
Stephen Colbert had made a toast to the “beautiful and friendly” Russian people and sarcastically announced a 2020 presidential bid on the ‘Evening Urgant’ talk show aired on state Channel 1 last year.
READ MORE: Putin-Trump summit: Not Munich, Pearl Harbor or Yalta, just Helsinki
The moment that shocked the ‘Late Night’ host was when former Democrat presidential nominee Bernie Sanders tweeted that an upcoming “second meeting” with the Russian president is now being discussed with Moscow. “Second meeting?!” the comedian shouted in disbelief. “Where would he even meet with a universally-condemned war criminal strongman who personally ordered the attack on our election?”
TONIGHT! Just when you thought things could get worse, they did because Trump invited Putin to the White House. #LSSCpic.twitter.com/ixqwt1nu9G
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) July 20, 2018
Later in the day, Colbert launched a series of rants, asking in one if “the Fall of 2018” will mark Putin’s visit, or “the Fall of Democracy.”
So, Trump is inviting Putin to the White House in the Fall. Is that the Fall of 2018 or the Fall of Democracy?
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 20, 2018
I can't believe they’re just inviting Putin into the White House. At least the Trojans made the Greeks use a horse.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 20, 2018
We can expect Putin to be shown the same hospitality in Washington D.C. that Trump was shown when he visited Moscow. So we might want to Scotchguard the Lincoln Bedroom.
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 20, 2018
Other public figures also declined to mince their words. Here are some of more prominent outbursts.
Mr. Trump makes no attempt to conceal his traitorous behavior: He repeatedly chooses Putin over the American people. If you were on the fence about impeachment, it's time to pick a side. Trump's made his choice clear. https://t.co/YUhn7z5eRl
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) July 19, 2018
Sounds like there’s a gigantic protest forming for tonight at 7pm outside of the White House. People are not happy Trump the Traitor just invited Vladimir Putin to the White House. It’s like if George W invited Osama bin Laden to the White House right after 9/11. Trump is insane.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 19, 2018
Are you fucking kidding me? I really hope Trump is not planning to invite Putin to Washington in the fall. There is absolutely no way we can allow that murdering thug who attacked our country to step foot on US soil
— Olga Lautman (@olgaNYC1211) July 19, 2018
While the rants may sound familiar in some quarters, the scale of the anger vented by notable US pundits suggests something may have got out of hand in the American system.
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