'Dumbfounded' diplomats say Trump's comments about embassy cuts 'make him Putin's patsy'

pulse

August 12, 2017 4:26 PM

"Their commander in chief is insulting them," said one career diplomat.

U.S. President Trump speaks to reporters at his golf estate in Bedminster, New Jersey

Their commander in chief is insulting them

Many pointed to Trump's comments as another example of his consistent and longstanding unwillingness to criticize Vladimir Putin.

"Trump takes most every opportunity to talk about leaders of other countries not doing enough for the United States, b" said Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk firm Eurasia Group. "It's hard to imagine that's purely because he likes the guy."

Malinowski pointed to the statement Trump issued upon signing the new sanctions bill into law last month in which he criticized Congress, rather than Putin, for hampering US-Russia relations. The White House was particularly irked by a provision in the legislaton that would require Trump to get

pulse