Trump laughs with Putin about meddling in US elections after saying he'd welcome it

Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday during the G-20 in Japan, and as expected it was a total disaster.

Trump once again refused to forcefully condemn Putin for Russia’s 2016 election interference, instead cracking a joke as he sat next to the murderous dictator.

The moment happened when a reporter asked Trump whether he’d tell Putin not to meddle in the 2020 election.

Trump turned to Putin, smiled and with a sarcastic finger wave said, “Don’t meddle in the election.”

A reporter asks President Trump if he would tell Russia not to meddle in the 2020 US presidential election.

As President Putin, Sec. Pompeo and others smile, President Trump turns to the Russian delegation, points and tells them not to meddle in the election. pic.twitter.com/lfcBwDJ1r6

— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 28, 2019

Sickest of all is other U.S. officials seated next to Trump, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, sat there and smiled — as if it’s funny that Trump was joking around about Putin’s attacks on American democracy.

How funny.

Of course, it’s not shocking that Trump wouldn’t stand up to his pal Putin.

Earlier this month, Trump said he wouldn’t turn down illegal help from hostile foreign powers like Russia in 2020.

Trump also refused to confront Putin about the election interference during a 90-minute call the pair had back in May.

And a year ago today, Trump was casting doubt about the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia carried out an attack on American elections in order to help elect Trump.

Amazingly, this wasn’t the only blunder of Trump’s conversation with Putin on the sidelines of the G20.

Trump also joked around with Putin about the pair’s mutual hatred of journalists.

“Get rid of them,” Trump said to the reporters in the room. “Fake news is a great term, isn’t it? You don’t have this problem in Russia, but we do.”

The reason Putin doesn’t have a “problem” with reporters is because Putin murders reporters who say critical things about him or the Russian government.

There’s only one word for Trump’s behavior: Repugnant.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.