It looks like Vladimir Putin wants to see where Donald Trump is showcasing that soccer ball he gave him in Finland. We could say we are speechless about Sarah Sanders announcement that discussions are already underway to have the Russian President visit the White House in the fall, but there is so much say about this and none of it is good.
Dan Coats, Donald Trump’s own Director of National Intelligence, was on live TV when he got the news and his reaction says it all.
WATCH: Director of Nat'l Intelligence Coats reacts when @mitchellreports informs him that the Trump administration is planning to invite President Putin to the White House:
"Say that again? Did I hear you? Did I hear you? Okay. That's going to be special." pic.twitter.com/BmnRr0sgnM
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 19, 2018
Let that sink in. The Director of National Intelligence didn’t know this meeting was in the works. The job description is to lead the intelligence community and advise the President on intelligence matters related to national security and yet he wasn’t asked to advise the President on whether this was a good idea. Coats whole interview with NBC’s Andrea Mitchell won’t make Trump happy. Axios says, “It was a STUNNING interview … and is already catching heat and attention among Trump loyalists. I’ve already had two phone calls from sources close to Trump expressing their astonishment. The fact that Trump’s own intelligence director is saying these things is extraordinary. A moment of true and startling independence. Reveals how concerned Coats is about what happened with Putin.”
Meanwhile, if you need any more proof that Trump is working on his own when it comes to Russia this meeting news is more evidence.
Everyone said that Trump would double-down on his press conference remarks after the phony would/not walk-back. Well, Trump just doubled-doubled by inviting Vlad Putin to the White House. This is a big F.U. to his critics.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) July 19, 2018
Thank god he cleared up that whole would vs. wouldn’t thing. Because the first thing you’d do if you saw no reason why it WOULDN’T be Russia is invite Putin to the FUCKING WHITE HOUSE.#TrumpIsATraitor https://t.co/21hyXzkvYs
— Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) July 19, 2018
Expect lots of protests surrounding this visit.
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
lol they thought the protests against trump in London were big. Vladimir Putin here? In our White House?
It'll grow from #OccupyLafayettePark to #OccupyTheCapitol
— Nick (@nabinnyc) July 19, 2018