Trump's Performance in Helsinki Draws Bipartisan Backlash at Home
*By Alisha Haridasani*
President Trump on Monday refused to state whether he believed his own intelligence agencies about Russia’s attempt to meddle in the 2016 election, widening the rift between the White House and American security agencies.
“I don’t see any reason why Russia would interfere with U.S. elections," Trump said during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin by his side in Helsinki, Finland. “I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial.”
“I think that the probe is a disaster for our country,” Trump added, taking the unusual step to undermine his own Justice Department on foreign soil.
The joint press conference took place days after special counsel Robert Mueller [indicted 12 Russian military officials](https://cheddar.com/videos/justice-department-indicts-12-russian-military-intelligence-officer-for-election-interference) for orchestrating a sophisticated campaign to steal information from the Democratic campaign and distribute the documents to influence the election.
Putin, on Monday, denied those allegations. “The Russian state has never interfered, and is not going to interfere, in internal American affairs, including the election process,” he said at the presser.
Putin then went on to suggest that the two countries should work together on the investigation, proposing that the U.S. should send in requests for Russian law enforcement to question the 12 people indicted.
Trump called Putin’s offer “incredible.”
The press conference came after an hours-long private meeting between Trump and Putin and caps Trump’s week-long trip across Europe, where he spent much of his time [censuring NATO allies](https://cheddar.com/videos/trump-wastes-no-time-attacking-allies-at-nato-summit-in-brussels) and [criticizing British Prime Minister Theresa May.](https://cheddar.com/videos/trump-calls-recorded-interview-in-the-uk-fake-news)
Immediately after the conference, Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced their concerns about Trump’s performance on the international stage -- even those loyal to the stage. House Speaker Paul Ryan, one of Trump's staunchest allies in Congress, said there is "no question that Russia interfered in our election."
"The President must appreciate that Russia is not our ally," Ryan said in a [statement.](https://www.speaker.gov/press-release/statement-russia)
“I never thought I would see the day when our American president would stand on the stage with the Russian president and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). “This is shameful.”
Former CIA director John Brennan said Trump was “nothing short of treasonous” at the press conference and the president is “wholly in the pocket of Putin.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted his discontent, saying the meeting was a “missed opportunity by President Trump to firmly hold Russia accountable."
But despite the outcry among politicians, the press conference won't shift the Republican party's support of the President, said Nahal Toosi, Politico's foreign affairs correspondent.
"They're not going to be standing up to this president. They feel like he, in terms of policy, is way too important to them."
The Republican party has several domestic issues in the pipeline, chief among them the midterm elections in November and the confirmation of a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, said Toosi.
As President Biden's poll numbers fall with Black voters, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass. 7th District) joined Cheddar to discuss what she feels could help the embattled administration: deliver on policies. Pressley pointed to stalled legislation such as new voting rights laws and Build Back Betters and canceling student loan debt, which would go a long way to improving his standing with Black constituents. "President Biden has the authority and the power to alleviate this burden, which would also help in closing the racial wealth gap, and he can do it by executive action with the stroke of a pen," she said. "And it doesn't require one vote from Congress. So, the Biden administration just needs to deliver to Black America in a tangible and impactful way."
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, NJ and Ayana Morris, co-director of the documentary 'Why Is We Americans?,' join Cheddar News to discuss the new documentary highlighting the impact of the Baraka family.
Former New York City mayor and lawyer to Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani made his singing debut on a taping of Fox’s The Masked Singer. However, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, two judges on the competition show, reportedly left in protest when Giuliani was unmasked upon being eliminated.
All Hands celebrates Black History Month by highlighting achievements in inclusivity and paying homage to those who have fought for equal rights. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins Cheddar News to discuss voter suppression; Damali Peterman, CEO of Breakthrough ADR, elaborates on the biggest barriers for Black professionals; Andre Perry, senior fellow of Brookings Institution, dives into student loans and the racial wealth divide; and lastly, BET CEO Scott Mills discusses the company's initiatives for 2022.
All month long Cheddar News is celebrating Black History Month.
In our nation’s capital, Black history is being made right now.
cheddar's own Arielle Hixon puts the spotlight on three lawmakers making that happen, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif. 43rd District) joined Cheddar News to talk about the current political climate in America, including efforts to roll back voting rights in multiple states in light of Black History Month. "Why do we have to deal with those who still believe that somehow this country only belongs to the whites of the country and that somehow they have to do everything that they can to undermine our voting and do voters suppression to keep us from being influential and at the table by which to solve problems?" she asked. Waters chided "two Democrats" who she said were stymying attempts to rectify the issue and also spoke on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Wall Street saw another volatile day after the Federal Reserve left rates unchanged for now, with plans to raise rates in March at its next meeting in order to ease inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has not made decisions on the size of rate increases, adding that the Fed is not trying to get inflation below two-percent. Ken Johnson, CFA and Investment Strategy Analyst explains why Powell thinks that high inflation is a significant threat to the labor market.
