They are unhappy that he seemed to play accusations, that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election, down the middle. He did not fully accept the US intelligence agency conclusions of Russian interference nor fully blame Russian President Putin for what went on.
For Democrats, Trump's words were "treasonous", "shameful" and were equivalent to a "modern day Pearl Harbor". Statements like this make it hard to believe anything the Democrats say any more. Everything that Trump does is "the worst thing that has ever happened in the history or mankind."
A month ago it was his meeting with Kim Jung Un. Two weeks ago it was the separation of the children of illegal immigrants from their parents at the border. It is now Putin and Russia.
However, many Republicans have also expressed concern about the President refusing to call out Putin while he was standing right next to him in Helsinki.
For example, Newt Gingrich, a Trump supporter from early on, called it Trump's "worst mistake of his Presidency." The conservative Wall Street Journal called it "a personal and national embarrassment" for the President.
What do I make of all of it?
First, I think it is interesting that Trump is always criticized for his lack of diplomacy but when he exhibits diplomacy on stage he is castigated for it. We saw it with his meeting with Kim Jung Un and we saw it again with the presser with Putin.
When you are trying to get some things accomplished with competitors or enemies what good does it do to stick it to them in public? Who thinks that is the diplomatic way to accomplish something?
Trump is thinking two steps ahead in his relationship with Putin and Russia. What good does it do to poke Putin in the eye in front of the world's press? Who knows what may have been discussed in private? Trump is playing a long game--- with Russia and North Korea. You can add China, the EU and the trade deals to the list as well.
Second, Trump also knows that the media would like nothing better than to get him on the record stating that Russia meddled in the election. If they can do that they then can run with that forever and use it to try to continue to delegitimize his election.
Meddling in an election is nothing new for the Russians. It is clear they have been trying to do this for years. Collusion is something different. It suggests something more sinister. However, as I have written before, there is technically nothing illegal about it. Collusion is not a crime under any federal statutes. If it was, the Clinton campaign would already be under indictment for funding the Russian dossier on Trump which they did through a former foreign British intelligence officer (Christopher Steele).
Of course, the average American voter does not understand the finer points between meddling, collusion and all the rest. And the mainstream American media is not doing anything to try to clarify anything. It is all wrapped together with Russia. Russia is bad. It meddled in our election. If they had not meddled, Trump would not be President.
Trump understands this and he is simply not going to let the media try to walk him into a trap.
Trump knew that if he agreed that Russia meddled in the election that the Fake News media would immediately use it to delegitimize Trump. That is why when Trump walked back and clarified his remarks today that he agreed with the conclusion that Russia had meddled he also added that it "could be other people also --there's a lot of people out there".
Let's assume that Trump had accused Russia of meddling in the election with Putin at his side in Helsinki. Does anyone doubt that we would have seen this headline in The New York Times?
Trump Admits Russia Meddled In 2012 Election
Casts doubt on the future of Trump Presidency
Trump is thinking two steps ahead here as well.
It is not easy being Donald Trump. Just think about the long list of people who wake up every day dreaming of how they can undermine or smear him. A lot of those people also control most of the established media and communication channels in the country (if not the world).
The only way Trump survives and wins in the long term is to stay...two steps ahead.
Keep this in mind as you survey the daily headlines and cable new alerts.
Did he misstep in Helsinki while trying to stay two steps ahead?
My guess is that this episode will soon pass over to be replaced by another "worst thing that has ever happened in the history of mankind" moment that Trump is responsible for.
Be prepared for more. Desperate Democrats and desperate deep staters are sure to do more desperate things.
All Trump can do is try to stay two steps ahead.
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