Republicans in Congress pushed back on Thursday against Trump's tweeted claim that they are responsible for poor US–Russia relations. “If only that outrage was directed at Putin, the murderous dictator who attacked our democracy."

Yuri Gripas / Reuters

Just before leaving Washington for a monthlong break, Republicans in Congress found themselves pushing back on another tweet from President Donald Trump — this time refuting his claim that Congress is to blame for the adversarial relationship between the United States and Russia. Trump tweeted on Thursday morning that America’s relationship with Russia is “at an all-time & very dangerous low,” blaming Congress, “the same people that can't even give us [health care].” Presumably, the president was referencing nearly unanimous votes in the House and Senate last week to implement new sanctions against Russia, as well as against North Korea and Iran. Trump signed the bill earlier this week, which will require him to get congressional approval before making changes to sanctions toward Russia, despite calling it “seriously flawed” in a statement.

Our relationship with Russia is at an all-time & very dangerous low. You can thank Congress, the same people that can't even give us HCare!

Senate Republicans, about to head home for a delayed August recess on Thursday after trying and failing for months to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, were having none of it, saying in tweets and conversations with reporters that Trump should be pointing his finger at Russia, not Congress, as the source of the problem. “Look, the relationship that we have with Russia is solely because of Putin,” said Sen. Bob Corker, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. At a press conference about the Palestinian Authority, Corker went on a riff about Russian offenses, including interference in the 2016 US presidential election. “What he’s done is an affront to the American people,” Corker said of Putin. “To try to have an effect on the election outcomes here had to be spoken to. I think we did it in a very appropriate manner, I’m proud of the legislation.” In a tweet with the hashtag #ChecksAndBalances, Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs argued that Trump’s anger was misplaced. “If only that outrage was directed at Putin, the murderous dictator who attacked our democracy,” he wrote.

Our relationship w/ Russia is at dangerous low. You can thank Putin for attacking our democracy, invading neighbors & threatening our allies