Former CIA Director John Brennan on Thursday questioned President Trump’s ability to represent US interests when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Former CIA Director John Brennan on Thursday questioned President Trump's ability to represent US interests when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with MSNBC, Brennan expressed concern that the president views US-Russia relations in a "personal way" rather than in terms of what's best for the United States.
"I think it is important we have these contacts with Russia, but the fact Mr. Trump is going to give a summit to Mr. Putin...I think Mr. Trump looks at this in a very personal way as opposed to what is in our best national interest," Brennan noted. He also said, "What Mr. Trump is doing is really unconscionable, continuing to advocate for his own...and doing things that I think are contrary to many years of the United States' global role as well as his continued misleading lies to the American public." Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Helsinki, Finland on July 16. CNN reports that top aides for Trump have offered assurances that the topic of Russia's meddling in the 2016 US election will be broached.
Some remain skeptical that anything meaningful will come of that discussion, as Trump has repeatedly defended Putin while casting doubt on findings by US intelligence agencies.
