Russia “can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race,” President Donald Trump tweeted. | Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Trump criticizes predecessors in defending congratulatory call to Putin

President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized his predecessors in defending his recent congratulatory call to President Vladimir Putin of Russia — a move that’s been widely criticized in the wake of news that Trump was specifically instructed not to congratulate Putin on his reelection.

“I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in the past, Obama called him also),” Trump tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing.”


“They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race,” Trump followed up in another tweet . “Bush tried to get along, but didn’t have the ‘smarts.’ Obama and Clinton tried, but didn’t have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!”

Trump spoke with Putin on Tuesday, not only to commend him on “his electoral victory,” but also to discuss North Korea, Ukraine, Syria, arms control and a potential meeting between the two leaders in the “not-too-distant” future, according to the White House. The exchange did not include mention of Putin’s disproportionate margin of victory nor Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

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Reports emerged on Tuesday night that briefing materials prepared for Trump’s call specifically said “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” and further recommended that the president condemn the recent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, which the United States and several allies have blamed the Kremlin for.

Trump ignored both of these recommendations. Some administration officials even questioned whether Trump fully read the notes telling him not to congratulate Putin, according to initial reports from The Washington Post . The leak has further illustrated concerns about Trump’s hesitation to criticize Putin or Russia.

The administration’s reaction to Putin’s reelection, along with Trump’s call, has been widely disparaged by Republican lawmakers.

“An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during his weekly news conference on Tuesday: “Well, the president can call whomever he chooses, When I look at a Russian election, what I see is a lack of credibility in tallying the results.”

“Calling him wouldn’t have been high on my list,” McConnell added.

Although Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) did not directly comment on the call, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman did refer to Putin by noting that that, personally, he “wouldn’t have a conversation with a criminal.”

Other Republicans were more frustrated by the leak of the briefing notes than the call itself.

“I don’t agree with congratulating #Putin but bigger outrage is this leak that could only come from someone in @POTUS inner circle,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote . “If you don’t like the President, resign, but this ongoing pattern of duplicity holds potential for serious damage to the nation.”

