Author Archives: Keith Koffler

You would think nothing else happened in Helsinki from most of the reporting other than a single comment by President Trump. But why report on a substantive event when you are given a golden opportunity to bash the president?

Now, I fully believe that Trump’s suggestion that he might accept Russian President Putin’s word over that of our own intelligence agencies was disgraceful, and I’m glad he walked the comments back. But as Trump pointed out in a series of tweets Wednesday morning, there was a very significant meeting in Helsinki between he and Putin which will have significant  ramifications for the world. But nobody seems to care. They’d much rather experience the joy of hating the president.

Has anyone done serious reporting to find out what was actually said in the hours of meetings between the leaders? Maybe something good for the United States, particularly with respect to countering China, which is an even bigger threat, at least in the long term, than Russia.

While the NATO meeting in Brussels was an acknowledged triumph, with billions of dollars more being put up by member countries at a faster pace, the meeting with Russia may prove to be, in the long run, an even greater success. Many positive things will come out of that meeting..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018

While the NATO meeting in Brussels was an acknowledged triumph, with billions of dollars more being put up by member countries at a faster pace, the meeting with Russia may prove to be, in the long run, an even greater success. Many positive things will come out of that meeting..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018

….Russia has agreed to help with North Korea, where relationships with us are very good and the process is moving along. There is no rush, the sanctions remain! Big benefits and exciting future for North Korea at end of process!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018

Some people HATE the fact that I got along well with President Putin of Russia. They would rather go to war than see this. It’s called Trump Derangement Syndrome!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2018

As I suggested earlier, Trump is walking back what he did.

Okay, I’m not saying he did it at my suggestion, just that this is what I thought he should do, and I’m glad he did it.

President Trump should not ever suggest that he trusts the conclusions of former KGB agent/current Russian President Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence agencies.

It’s not just a mistake. It’s not mainly an opportunity for Democrats to attack him, as some Trump supporters suggest. What’s more, it’s not time to be reciting Barack Obama’s sins, many as they are. And it’s not the time to talk about Trump’s actual policies, which have been rather tough on Russia.

What Trump did by suggesting that Putin might be right and that the Russians may not be guilty of interfering in the election needs to be seen for what it is independently of other issues. It is simply egregious. If Obama did it, conservatives would be all over him.

I understand there are reasons for it. But there is no excuse for it.

The reasons start with Trump’s obsession, which is understandable, with efforts to discredit his election. He fears that admitting to Russian interference is an opening for people to say that his election was not legitimate and that the Russians put him in office and without their help, Hillary Clinton would have won. I get that concern.

But what happened is what happened. Even House Republican acknowledge Russian involvement. This does not mean there was collusion with the Trump campaign. And it does not even mean that Russia was trying to get Trump elected, as opposed to mostly seeking to sow discord and undermine our democracy.

I also understand that Trump is trying to improve relations with Russia, and that he had just sat with Putin for hours during which the Russian president apparently made a passionate case that Russia did not interfere with the election. So to say otherwise would be calling Putin a liar while standing right next to him, something that not only is difficult to do on a personal level but that Trump may fear would damage whatever progress he had just made with Putin.

But Trump could have figured out a way to finesse this. Because there are certain principles that must not be violated. You do not credit a foreign power, particularly while overseas, while diminishing patriotic Americans. Even if some of them are enthusiastic participants in the deep state, it’s still our state.

Trump doesn’t backtrack, doesn’t apologize, and doesn’t give in. It’s part of his strength. But true strength, while tough to bend, is not inflexible. The president should recant what he said and apologize for it.

It won’t help him with his enemies. But it’s the right thing to do, and it will strengthen him by showing he can take responsibility for his errors.