Defiant Trump invites Vladimir Putin to Washington

Donald Trump has ended the toughest week of his presidency by inviting Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Washington.

Donald Trump, accompanied by daughter Ivanka and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, about to sign an executive order at the White House yesterday. Picture: AP

Donald Trump has ended the most difficult week of his presidency by inviting Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Washington des­pite the fallout from their summit in Helsinki.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said “discussions are already under way” for the possible visit later this year after the US President asked National Security Adviser John Bolton to extend an invitation to his Russian counterpart.

Earlier, Mr Trump tweeted: “I look forward to our second meeting so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed.”

News of the invitation came after the White House retreated from yet another position taken by Mr Trump at the Helsinki summit.

In Helsinki on Monday, Mr Trump described as an “incredible offer” Mr Putin’s suggestion that Moscow would interview the 12 Russian spies accused by the US of meddling in the US election if the US would also allow Russia to interview former US ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul. Ms Sanders said yesterday the President now “disagrees” with the idea.

The Senate yesterday emphatically expressed its opposition to the idea of offering Mr McFaul to be interviewed by approving a rare bipartisan resolution to oppose it. The resolution was passed by 98 votes to zero.

Meanwhile, Director of Nat­ional Intelligence Dan Coats said yesterday he had still not been told what took place in the Helsinki meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin. “Well, you’re right. I don’t know what happened in that meeting,” he said in an TV interview at the Aspen Security Forum.

“If he had asked me how that (meeting) ought to be conducted, I would have suggested a different way.

“But that’s not my role, that’s not my job. So, it is what it is.”

Mr Coats was visibly shocked during the live interview when told the news that the President had invited Mr Putin to Washington.

Mr Coats was thrust into the spotlight this week when he was forced to defend his intelligence agencies after Mr Trump indicated he believed Mr Putin over US intelligence on the issue of interference in the 2016 US election.

The President’s comments sparked an outcry across the political divide, forcing Mr Trump to retreat, claiming he “misspoke” during the press conference about Russian interference.

Mr Trump has since said he believed the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the election and that he held Mr Putin, as leader of Russia, accountable. But he appeared to contradict intelligence agencies for a second time this week when he replied “no” when asked whether Russia was still targeting the US. The White House later said Mr Trump was misinterpreted and he was saying “no” to more questions.

Despite the chaotic week and the chorus of criticism, Mr Trump remained defiant, tweeting: “The summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media.”

“The Fake News Media wants so badly to see a major confrontation with Russia, even a confrontation that could lead to war. They are pushing so hard and hate the fact that I’ll probably have a good relationship with Putin.”

Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia.