It didn’t take long for mainstream media reporters and pundits to erupt into mass hysterics following President Donald Trump’s joint Helsinki Summit press conference Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Everyone is numb and in shock. We can’t believe what we just witnessed, but for me it’s this simple: The President of the United States openly colluded with Putin to undermine our democracy,” CNN political analyst Ryan Lizza tweeted Monday.
Everyone is numb and in shock. We can’t believe what we just witnessed, but for me it’s this simple: The President of the United States openly colluded with Putin to undermine our democracy.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) July 16, 2018
The “collusion” Lizza claimed he witnessed occurred after Trump said he holds “both countries responsible” because “we’re all to blame” for Russia’s interference with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Trump also noted that while he has “great confidence in my intelligence people,” he believes that Putin “was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
Trump’s apparently baffling words provided the springboard for his usual media critics to launch increasingly frenzied cries of shock, anger, outrage, hyperbole and unrestrained apoplexy.
“What will republicans do? What will republicans do? What will republicans do? What will republicans do? That is the only question that matters,” MSNBC’s Katy Tur tweeted.
What will republicans do?
What will republicans do?
What will republicans do?
What will republicans do?That is the only question that matters.
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) July 16, 2018
“Wow, Trump is going out of his way to praise Russia. I guess ‘wow’ is now an understatement, but this is truly a remarkable moment in American history, 72 hours after the DoJ accused Russia of a criminal act against the democracy, POTUS essentially forgives Russia on world stage,” NBC’s Chuck Todd tweeted.
Todd also wondered whether “serious Congressional Republicans” will “truly sit back and say nothing following this POTUS performance on the world stage uttering what he’s said while standing and UPLIFTING one of the great adversaries of freedom and democracy?”
Wow, Trump is going out of his way to praise Russia. I guess “wow” is now an understatement, but this is truly a remarkable moment in American history, 72 hours after the DoJ accused Russia of a criminal act against the democracy, POTUS essentially forgives Russia on world stage
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) July 16, 2018
Will serious Congressional Republicans still truly sit back and say nothing following this POTUS performance on the world stage uttering what he’s said while standing and UPLIFTING one of the great adversaries of freedom and democracy?
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) July 16, 2018
CNN host Brian Stelter insisted that reporters — who ostensibly cover the news dispassionately and with objectivity — “can’t — & shouldn’t — hide their shock about what just occurred” during the press conference.
Reporters can't — & shouldn't — hide their shock about what just occurred https://t.co/5LMySB4bOT
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 16, 2018
CNN’s Chris Cuomo even took to Twitter “as a citizen, not a journalist,” to implore Trump to “tell America you don’t believe Putin over your intel community and admin officials. Even if they don’t ask you on fox … say it anyway. There is no strength in the position you took. This is bigger than party or any personal gripe.”
“As an American …t his was embarrassing,” Cuomo also wrote. “I never thought I would see an American president side with putin over their own intel agencies. I know Trump thinks somehow this is good for him. He is wrong. And his advisors better tell him that or tell us why they won’t.”
As a citizen, not a journalist, @realDonaldTrump, tell America you don’t believe Putin over your intel community and admin officials. Even if they don’t ask you on fox…say it anyway. There is no strength in the position you took. This is bigger than party or any personal gripe
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) July 16, 2018
As an American…this was embarrassing. I never thought I would see an American president side with putin over their own intel agencies. I know Trump thinks somehow this is good for him. He is wrong. And his advisors better tell him that or tell us why they won’t.
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) July 16, 2018
Some media critics even began wondering and asking whether Trump administration officials would resign from their posts following the Putin press conference.
“White House officials are openly admitting they don’t know how to respond to questions about President Trump’s press conference. Asked if anyone from the administration will resign over the president’s remarks, a senior White House official quipped, ‘Good question,'” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tweeted.
Related: Putin Denies Meddling, Offers Mueller Access to Indicted Agents
Collins also wondered, “President Trump just — at minimum — equated the findings of the American intelligence community that he is in charge of with Putin’s denials. How does Dan Coats stay in his job?”
White House officials are openly admitting they don’t know how to respond to questions about President Trump’s press conference. Asked if anyone from the administration will resign over the president’s remarks, a senior White House official quipped, “Good question.”
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
President Trump just — at minimum — equated the findings of the American intelligence community that he is in charge of with Putin’s denials. How does Dan Coats stay in his job?
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
“How much longer can Gen. John Kelly – USMC (ret.) – work for @realDonaldTrump who today dropped and ignored his oath of office in Helsinki with Putin witnessing Trump’s surrender?” MSNBC senior contributor Mike Barnicle wondered about Trump’s chief of staff.
How much longer can Gen. John Kelly – USMC (ret.) – work for @realDonaldTrump who today dropped and ignored his oath of office in Helsinki with Putin witnessing Trump’s surrender?
— Mike Barnicle (@mikebarnicle) July 16, 2018
But some media members were wondering this very same thing prior to Trump’s press conference with Putin. Ruth Marcus, The Washington Post’s deputy editorial page editor and columnist, reacted Monday to a tweet in which Trump wrote, “Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”
Marcus responded, “Everyone who works for Trump: quit now. Save your souls. Save your honor. Save your reputation. Russia attacked our democracy. He doesn’t care, won’t defend our country.”
Everyone who works for Trump: quit now. Save your souls. Save your honor. Save your reputation. Russia attacked our democracy. He doesn’t care, won’t defend our country. https://t.co/huIvTujZLq
— Ruth Marcus (@RuthMarcus) July 16, 2018
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