President Donald Trump was manipulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki — and Congress must fulfill its "oversight duty as well as keep the American people informed of the current danger" posed by the Kremlin, Texas GOP Rep. Will Hurd said Friday.

Because Trump sided with Putin over the conclusions of U.S. intelligence officers on election meddling, "the leader of the free world actively participated in a Russian disinformation campaign that legitimized Russian denial and weakened the credibility of the United States to both our friends and foes abroad," Hurd said.

Hurd, 40, a former CIA undercover agent in Afghanistan and Pakistan who is in his second term, argued his position in an op-ed for The New York Times.

"For more than a decade, Russia has meddled in elections around the world, supported brutal dictators and invaded sovereign nations — all to the detriment of United States interests," Hurd said.

The representative argued that intelligence information concluded that Putin personally ordered the hacking of Hillary Clinton's campaign and other Democratic operatives as part of a widespread "disinformation and chaos" campaign.

"Disinformation and chaos is a Russian art form developed during the Soviet era that Russia has now updated using modern tools," Hurd said. "The result has been Russian disinformation spreading like a virus throughout the Western world.

"Moscow has pursued an aggressive foreign policy aimed at spreading disorder and expanding Russian influence in states formerly under the heel of Soviet Communism," he added.

"These efforts weaken our allies and strengthen those who seek to undermine the democratic order that has helped prevent another world war in Europe since 1945.

"Make no mistake, Russian disinformation campaigns are working," Hurd said.

Therefore, Congress must "take the lead on European security issues"—noting that legislators, for instance, slapped "severe" sanctions on the Kremlin last year for its election meddling.

"Without action," he concluded, "we risk losing further credibility in international negotiations with both our friends and foes on critical trade deals, military alliances and nuclear arms."