President Trump has announced his next summit with a controversial world leader. The president will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, the White House announced on Thursday.
According to the president’s administration, the two leaders will discuss “relations between the United States and a range of national security issues” when they meet. This encounter will be a part of President Trump’s larger trip to European countries.
This face to face between Trump and Putin comes in the wake of FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The president has been critical of the probe and has denied any collusion. Trump has argued that the Democrats should be investigated instead.
President Trump has previously given conflicting statements about the role Russia played in 2016 interference. On Thursday, Trump echoed Russian denials, while planning for the summit.
Trump tweeted: “Russia continues to say they had nothing to do with Meddling in our Election! Where is the DNC Server, and why didn’t Shady James Comey and the now disgraced FBI agents take and closely examine it? Why isn’t Hillary/Russia being looked at? So many questions, so much corruption!”
Russia continues to say they had nothing to do with Meddling in our Election! Where is the DNC Server, and why didn’t Shady James Comey and the now disgraced FBI agents take and closely examine it? Why isn’t Hillary/Russia being looked at? So many questions, so much corruption!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2018
The announcement of this Helsinki summit came one day after National Security Adviser John Bolton held talks with Moscow officials for the summit. On Wednesday Trump announced that he and Putin would discuss Syria and Ukraine among other issues.
Do you think that the president ought to be face to face with Putin? Is this giving him too much access and spotlight? Do you trust Trump to hold Putin accountable for injustices?
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