Thread by @atrupar

.@TuckerCarlson is airing his Helsinki interview with President Trump in just a few minutes. Follow me for a video thread.

Tucker characterizes Trump's walk-back of his defense of Putin as a "hostage tape."

"The people yelling loudest about how the Russians are our greatest enemy & Trump is a puppet happen to be the same people who have been mismanaging our foreign policy for the past few decades."

Tucker is still skeptical that Russia interfered in the election.

"Shouldn't we see some actual evidence that it happened? Maybe a server or at least a clear explanation of what happened."

Tucker frets that we're on the slippery slope to Congress "demanding unthinking obedience to the lawmaker community. Dissent is unpatriotic and if you don't agree you're working for Vladimir Putin. That's where we are heading and fast."

Trump begins interview with Tucker by lambasting @JohnBrennan, who he calls "a very bad person." He trashes the FBI in general in response to their criticism of his defense of Putin in Helsinki.

Trump suggests he feels a certain loyalty to Russia because they helped us win World War 2. Then tries to take credit for the fact the American economy is "about twice the size of China." #lulz

Trump blatantly lies about NATO funding, claims US pays "90 percent of the costs." (The US pays 22 percent.)

Trump says he's bothered by provisions of NATO that require the US to come to the defense of other member countries.

Trump uses white supremacists talking points -- says immigration is "destroying the culture of Europe" -- falsely claims construction of his border wall has already started, adds that he wants to be able to deport immigrants without due process.

Trump falsely accuses Democrats of wanting open borders, then characterizes their motivates for wanting that as follows: "Maybe it's a political philosophy they grew up with, maybe they learned it in school, maybe they are fools, I don't know."

Trump reacts to Mueller's indictment of Russian hackers by blaming Obama: "Obama was the president when all of this [happened]... it's a disgrace what's happening to our country."

He then says he's willing to meddle with DOJ to steer investigations toward Hillary & other Dems.

TRUMP on MERKEL: "She allowed millions of people to come in & when they came into Germany they passed everywhere else & they went to other countries. Obviously it's hurt Angela, I don't want to say who is better [between her & Putin] but she's been very badly hurt by immigration"

Trump concludes interview with Tucker by smearing Democrats.

"What do you get from resistance? It's 'resist' and obstruct, that's what they are all about. They aren't good politicians, they have horrible policy." #civility

Trump blatantly lies about NATO, then reveals he doesn’t understand the purpose of the alliance in the first place thinkprogress.org/trump-nato-lie…

TUCKER: "Why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from attack?"

TRUMP: “I understand what you’re saying. I’ve asked the same question." thinkprogress.org/trump-nato-lie…

On CNN, @SenatorRounds (R-SD) defends Trump's questioning of whether US should defend Montenegro if country is attacked by Russia.

"To ask the question is one thing, to disagree with Article 5 would be another. It's a fair question to ask."