Thread by @PaulaChertok

#Putin starts with rare words in English to "Donald": Ok, Shall we start? Then says a new era of cooperation is at hand. "There's no reason US-Russia relations should be complicated. On 'so-called' interference, the Russian state has never interfered in US election & never will"

Trump just slammed "obstructive" Democrats and the press in prepared remarks at press conference with Putin at #HelsinkiSummit

Q: This morning you blamed the US. Do you blame Russia for anything?
Trump: Yes, I blame both countries. Mueller probe is ridiculous. There was no collusion. There was nobody to collude w.

So Trump uses false equivalence to let Russia off the hook for attacking his own country😡

Remember, NOBODY is holding anyone accountable for Russia's mass attack that swept Trump into power EXCEPT MUELLER. GOP refused to investigate, refused to establish an independent commission. MUELLER IS IT. And Trump has spent most of his press time trashing him. #HelsinkiSummit

OMG Trump is now denying Russia interfered in the election. He says Coats thinks it was Russia but he's not sure. Then starts pushing conspiracy theory BS about Pakistani, DNC server, Hillary's 33000 emails. "Putin made an incredible denial and offer" (I bet!)

#HelsinkiSummit💩

The Treason Will Be Televised & just was! The President of the United States took the self-serving denials and lies of Russia's Putin over America's law enforcement. Whenever he's given a chance to stand up to Putin, he fails miserably & attacks Americans. #HelsinkiSummit #RESIGN

https://twitter.com/robreiner/status/1018886807646138368

Anderson Cooper is spot-on. "That was the most disgraceful performance ever by an American president." Spineless Trump let Putin lie on&on, then echoed and boosted it. It was pure surrender. Imagine the one-on-one! Trump is owned by Russia. 🍾at Kremlin tonight. #HelsinkiSummit

It took Trump being a puppet in front of Putin to make ppl finally see reality. Media's been stuck on WHY. Enough benefit of the doubt. Trump has & will continue to surrender to Russia. GOP—vote against Trump—block his agenda—or start #Impeachment to save America. #HelsinkiSummit

.@RepAdamSchiff: Trump surrendered US interests to Putin today. There's no excuse to engage in moral equivalence with a dictator. It was repugnant. He's supposed to defend liberty, democracy and the United States. He did none of this. Now Russia knows it can keep interfering.🎯

McCain: It's clear the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake. Press conference was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. Trump made a conscious chose to use same script & false equivalence as Putin & defended him. Damage is incalculable.

CNN: Putin timed arrival in Helsinki to coincide with Kremlin TV primetime show. Fishman: The feeling in Russia is 'We got it.' Trump agreed with Putin. Not the other way around. Trump showed him respect. These summits are exactly what Kremlin wants. It was a propaganda victory.

Stunned GOP Rep Will Hurd: "I've seen Russian intelligence manipulate many people in my career as a CIA officer. But I never would've thought that the US President would be one of them." Pls @HurdOnTheHill, censure Trump; Demand he resign. #HelsinkiSummit

#CancelPutinSummit looking like a pretty good idea after all. Every day will become more regrettable, as Trump continues to sell out America, its institutions, its people. GOP, act today. This is your monster.

#HelsinkiSummit #TrumpPutinSummit #TrumpRussia #TrumpRussiaCollusion

Oh? After a disgraceful betrayal of America and bowing to pariah Putin, Trump tells Hannity *PUTIN* described the Mueller probe as a shame—driving US & Russia apart. Seriously?? So Trump admits he's getting his propaganda talking points from Vladimir Putin? What a pitiful puppet.

🤔If Putin's pushing Trump to fire Mueller, did he inspire Comey firing too? Trump repeated a talking pt in Helsinki Putin gave him—blaming probe for "driving wedge" b/w US/Russia. Remember he told Russians in Oval O "the pressure's off now"—which seemed mid-conversation? #Maddow

https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1019034932365217792

Among those who enabled Helsinki Summit by assuring us Trump would hold Russia accountable for malign activities & prioritize protecting American interests, Ambassador Jon Huntsman has perhaps the most egg on his face. He said this, but shouldve known. How does he do his job now?

https://twitter.com/PaulaChertok/status/1015067945033129984