During a very heated interview on MSNBC this morning, Trump adviser and surrogate Michael Flynn chastised anchor Stephanie Ruhle for her highly critical comments towards Russia and leader Vladimir Putin.

The retired general took issue with Ruhle bringing up Putin’s reputation for killing journalists and Russia’s invasion of Crimea. When she initially brought up Putin in relation to Donald Trump and his campaign, Flynn dismissed it as “rhetoric,” and proceeded to discuss the Iran deal and how Russia is a key to it. Thus, per Flynn, “why is that our government” was trying to do a Russian reset.

After Ruhle noted that proponents of the deal would say it was to put a check on terrorism, Flynn went back to criticizing it and Iran, stating that the country’s national anthem is “death to America.” Once again, Ruhle pivoted back to Putin, asking Flynn point-blank if this were a man he could respect considering everything he’s done.

“Stop it with that kind of stuff,” Flynn demanded. Ruhle asked, “Stop it with what? Stop it with what?”

“How you’re describing a leader in the world that is, actually, that we have to deal with,” Flynn responded. “We’re dealing with him right now.

“We cannot make Russia an enemy,” the general continued. “Russia is a country deeply involved in the Middle East right now.”

Much like former campaign advisers Carter Page and Paul Manafort, Flynn has been shown to have some ties to Russia. He appeared at a dinner for Russia Today where he was seated at the same table as Putin (and Jill Stein, for that matter).

Putin, Jill Stein and Donald Trump's military advisor Michael Flynn attending dinner for RT, Putin's propaganda arm. pic.twitter.com/J97YjqxtRW — Zachary Fedell (@zatchry) August 6, 2016

He told the Washington Post this summer that he didn’t speak to Putin outside of introductions and did not ask to be seated at his table.

Watch the clip above, via MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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