Helsinki Summit: Donald Trump questions intelligence agencies over US election interference

Donald Trump has been accused of ’treasonous’ behaviour after siding with Vladimir Putin over his own intelligence agencies.

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Donald Trump has been accused of “treasonous” behaviour after publicly challenging his own intelligence agencies over Moscow interference in the 2016 presidential election, suggesting he trusted the word of Vladimir Putin over US agents.

Standing beside the Russian President after their closed door meeting in Helsinki overnight (AEST), Mr Trump said the two leaders had spent “a great deal of time” discussing the claim that Russia had hacked the election to help him win, and Mr Putin “was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today”.

Asked straight out whether he believed his intelligence agencies or Mr Putin, the US President replied: “[Director of National Intelligence] Dan Coats came to me. They said, they think it’s Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia.

“I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be.”

The comments have caused a furore among both Republicans and Democrats, the strongest criticism coming from former CIA director John Brennan who said they showed the US President was “in the pocket of Putin.”

“Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes & misdemeanours,’” Mr Brennan wrote on Twitter.

“Not only were Trump’s comments imbecile, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin,” he said.

Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of “high crimes & misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) July 16, 2018

Even Mr Trump’s supporters were critical of his stance. Lindsey Graham, who often advocates for Mr Trump in Congress, tweeted: This answer by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and create far more problems than it solves.”

Missed opportunity by President Trump to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling and deliver a strong warning regarding future elections.

This answer by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and create far more problems than it solves. (1/3)

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 16, 2018

He added: “Russia did meddle in 2016 election & are trying it again. I’ve seen no evidence of collusion, plenty evidence of Russian meddling,” before tweeting, of the soccer ball Mr Putin gave as a gift for Mr Trump’s youngest son Barron: “I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it into the White House.”

This morning Mr Trump appeared to back down on his assertion, tweeting: “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people. However I also recognise that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past ... we must get along!”

As I said today and many times before, “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.” However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past – as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, we must get along! #HELSINKI2018

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018

Mr Coats this morning defended his intelligence agencies, saying; “We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security.’’

He was supported by Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, who said: “The Russians are not our friends and I entirely believe the assessment of our intelligence community.”

During a 45-minute press conference after their session in the Finnish Presidential Palace’s Hall of Mirrors Mr Putin admitted he had wanted Mr Trump to win the election, but denied any interference from Moscow. “President Trump mentioned the issue of the so-called interference of Russia during the American elections. I had to reiterate things I said several times — including during our personal contact — that the Russian state has never interfered and is not going to interfere into internal American affairs, including election processes,” he said.

He went on to offer Russian help in the interrogation of 12 Russian GRU agents now indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller over interference in the election, an offer Mr Trump praised as “incredible."

Throughout the press conference Mr Trump praised Mr Putin nearly a dozen times, failing to offer any criticism of the Russian leader despite international concern over Russian involvement in Syria, the annexation of Crimea and the weapon used to shoot down Malaysian Airways Flight 317 over Ukraine.”

Mr Putin and Mr Trump both laughed when asked what compromising material the Russians had on Mr Trump and his family.

“Well, it’s difficult to imagine an utter nonsense on a bigger scale than this,’’ Mr Putin said, emphasising ‘’I was an intelligence officer myself’’.

After the two men thrashed out global issues for more than two hours, Mr Putin said they had outlined “first steps for improving this relationship and to restore an acceptable level of trust.”

The two leaders discussed a wide range issues from Israel to pressure on Iran to halt nuclear ambitions to the Syrian crisis.

Mr Trump said after the summit that “constructive dialogue between the United States and Russia affords the opportunity to open new pathways toward peace and stability in our world.’’

He insisted the relationship between Russia and the United States had never been worse than now before adding:’’However, that changed as of about four hours ago.’’

Mr Trump predicted that the US and Russia would end up with ”an extraordinary relationship,“ while Mr Putin declared “the Cold War is a thing of the past.’’

In significant discussion points both leaders agreed on

* Further talks about nuclear anti-proliferation;

military co-operation to resettle refugees in the Middle East countries — and help countries bordering Syria by increasing humanitarian efforts;

creating safety for Israel and effective co-operation on Syria, including enforcement of the 1974 Israel-Syria Separation of Fores Agreement to bring peace to the Golan Heights;

*Establish a high-level working group that would bring together captains of Russian and American business;

*Look at allowing Mr Mueller’s commission entry into Russia to work with Russian officials, including the possible extradition of the 12 GRU agents accused of hacking into Democratic emails while Russia, in exchange, would be allowed to question Americans that Russia charges with illegal actions.

Mr Trump said Mr Mueller’s investigation had a “negative impact” on the US-Russia relationship.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous what’s going on with the probe,” Mr Trump said, insisting that there had been “zero collusion’’.

He blamed both the United States and Russia for the deterioration in their relationship over the past two years.

“I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. We’ve all been foolish,” Mr Trump said. “We should have frankly had this dialogue a long time ago. I think that we’re all to blame. I think that the United States has now stepped forward along with Russia.”

But Mr Trump’s performance was derided by his political opponents and heightened concerns across Europe of a seismic shift in traditional and strategic alliances.

Democrat Chris Murphy tweeted: “This entire trip has just been one giant middle finger from President Trump to his own country. Just jaw dropping.’’

Senator Elizabeth Warren said Mr Trump had embarrassed America, undermined institutions, welcomed alliances and embraced a dictator.

”Putin must be held accountable — not rewarded. Disgraceful,’’ she said.

CNN reported that a senior White House official said: “How bad was that?”

”A Republican official close — and friendly — to the White House said, ‘We now know why he wanted to meet one-on-one’,’’ CNN said.

The two leaders disagreed on Crimea and Iran, but they have not mentioned other hot topics such as the downing of MH17 or the Novichok nerve agent poisoning in Salisbury.

Relations ‘never been worse’

Earlier, Mr Trump arrived at his high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin hours after claiming the US’s relationship with Russia had “never been worse” and blaming America for the deterioration between the superpowers.

The US President tweeted blame for the hostilities on “many years of US foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”

His words were an apparent reference to the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the US election and possible ties to the Trump campaign that have­ led to a slew of indictments, including of 12 Russian intelligence officers last week.

At a news conference after a one-on-one meeting with the Russian president, Trump said not a single critical word about Russia on any of the issues that have brought relations between the Washington and Moscow to a post-Cold War low.

Asked if he trusted US intelligence agencies which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, he said he had been told by his CIA chief that it was Russia, but that he saw no reason to believe it.

“President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today,” Trump said on Monday.

“We spent a great deal of time talking about it. He feels strongly about the issue and has an interesting idea,” Trump told a joint news conference with Putin in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Putin denied any such interference, saying the allegations were “complete nonsense”.

“I had to repeat that the Russian state never interfered, and does not plan to interfere in internal American electoral process,” Putin added. US intelligence agencies believe the Kremlin acted to influence the 2016 US presidential election in which Trump won over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Mr Trump blasted his predecessor, claiming Barack Obama “thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election”, so he did “NOTHING” about allegations of Russian meddling. Earlier, the US President attacked the EU as a greater “foe’’ than Russia and China, just hours before meeting the Russian leader in Helsinki overnight.

European unease escalated as Mr Trump went in to the closed-doors meeting in the Presidential Palace’s Hall of Mirrors’ — his ears ringing with firm advice about NATO concerns over ­Russia’s actions in Crimea, the Baltic States and the Middle East, and fresh revelations that the death of a British woman in Amesbury was caused by the nerve agent novichok, hidden in a ­perfume bottle.

Mr Trump said before the meeting that he had low expectations, but would discuss nuclear proliferation and Syria. However, European leaders were wary of any shifting allegiances that may be sparked by the ­summit.

Mr Trump said he would also raise the issue of Russian meddling in the US election with Mr Putin, but he had foreshadowed there would not be a mea culpa moment from Putin at this summit, billed as the most crucial since the beginning of the Cold War.

Congress members widely condemned Mr Trump meeting the authoritarian Mr Putin.

The summit follows special counsel Robert Mueller indicting 12 Russian military intelligence officers accused of hacking the Democrats in the 2016 election. It also comes while the US has sanctions still in place over Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and follows the recent expulsions of 60 Russian diplomats over the novichok poisonings in Britain.

The US ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, told American news networks on Sunday that the meeting of the two was to defuse tensions: “This is an attempt to see if we can defuse and take some of the drama, and quite frankly some of the danger, out of the relationship right now.’’

But the looseness of the unscripted meeting was evident when Mr Trump admitted he had not thought about asking Mr Putin for extradition of the Russian hackers until asked about it by a journalist.

Mr Trump’s presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton, tweeted before the meeting: “Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”

Mr Putin’s chief spokesman Dmitri Peskov told Russia Today that the Russian president accepted Mr Trump would be putting US national interests above all else, but he expected him to respect Russia’s right to do the same. He anticipated the summit would be ‘’baby steps’’ towards “overcoming the current critical situation in our bilateral relations’’.

Mr Peskov said the leaders got along well, and Mr Trump had often called Mr Putin a “competitor’’ rather than an enemy.

“Our president is quite pragmatic, quite consistent, quite practical,” Mr Peskov said. “He always says that he cares about the national interests of Russia, above everything else. That’s why he understands the reciprocal beliefs of Donald Trump.”

Mr Peskov acknowledged Mr Trump’s recent criticism of European countries. “Russia and the United States have a special responsibility for maintaining strategic stability and security in the world, our two countries specifically,” Mr Peskov said. “So common sense tells us that the countries of the world, especially European countries, should be interested in the normalisation of relations between Moscow and Washington.”

However, frayed European leaders continued to be bruised by aggressive trade attacks from Mr Trump, the latest on the eve of the Helsinki summit. In an interview while on his Scottish golf course on Sunday, Mr Trump picked the EU as his biggest foe, using the word meaning a competitor, rather than an enemy. “I think the European Union is a foe — what they do to us in trade. Now you wouldn’t think of the European Union but they’re a foe,” he told CBS. “Russia is foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe … but that doesn’t mean they are bad.”

He said “the EU is very difficult’’ and repeated his concern that some of the US’s oldest allies had engaged in unfair trade blocs.

His main beef was with Germany doing a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline deal with Russia at the same time as having the US pay for NATO to protect it from ­Russia.

additional reporting: agencies