Trump confronts Putin on election hacking in first meeting

Trump: Mr. President, did Russia hack America's 2016 election? 

Putin: No. That's a dirty rotten lie, made up by your intelligence agencies. 

Trump: That's what I thought. How about getting out of The Ukraine, since it's actually not part of Russia. 

Putin: Ukraine has always been part of Russia and always will be. 

Trump: OK. Just thought I'd ask.

The problem is the White House is no longer a reliably accurate source. Just like the Kremlin. So we may never get an accurate report of the Trump--Putin meeting.

Trump claims Obama choked in Obama's response to the Russian meddling that Trump barely accepts occurred yet Trump's response is to do nothing beyond ask Putin to not do it again.

"The two leaders connected very quickly," Tillerson said. "There was a very clear positive chemistry."

Because both men are power-hungry wannabe dictators.

Anyway, I doubt Trump pressed Putin very hard. Rex used the word 'robust'. Like a strong cup of coffee? The real proof will be how Trump reacts to the investigation from now. And we know what reaction it will be (see 8T, Wolfpack).

I'm looking forward to some 'robust' input from our Putin-Trump supporters today

Lol who said anything about war with Russia?

Because if there's one person in the world you should take at his word, it's Putin. /eyeroll.

"So, Putin, did you hack the election"

"No Donald, of course not. Even though you asked me to I would never do such a thing. And while we are at it, I never had Alexander Litvinenko assassinated with a polonium-210 pellet and I've absolutely never watched a tape of you getting urinated on by two prostitutes from the south side of St. Petersburg named Veronycha and Annya. By the way Annya says hello."

"Good enough for me. Greatest. Diplomatic. Meeting. In History."

commanteerToday  07:35 am JST

Glad Trump is standing in the way of so many here and elsewhere who want war with Russia. 

You confused your imagination for reality again. No one wants a war with Russia.

This picture certainly says it all...

Trump leans in and whispers, "Okay Vlad, got to make it look like I'm giving you a hard time about the hacking".

Putin replies,

"Don't worry, Donald, I know you don't mean it." and gives him a thumbs up.

Trump has credibility only with his cult followers, the minority of Americans who voted for him. Even the global .01%-ers, the people he represents, don't believe a word he says. They don't care though about his lies though; he's making them even richer and more powerful. There is no honor among the world's thieving oligarchs.

Late-night night host David Letterman asked Trump during a 2013 interview whether he had a relationship with Russia ahead of the Miss Universe pageant.

"Well I've done a lot of business with the Russians," Trump said, before being asked whether he'd met Putin personally.

"He's a tough guy. I met him once," said Trump.

Putin looks tiny next to Trump. I wonder if Trump told his old pal to ditch the combover and get a plastic implant like he has.

Trump always finds time to tweet, G-20 or otherwise.

Everyone here is talking about why John Podesta refused to give the DNC server to the FBI and the CIA. Disgraceful!

Uh - CIA? Are they involved? There has been no indication of this - thus far, the investigation has been conducted solely by the FBI. But then, as president, Trump has access to info that we don't (and often lets it slip). Perhaps this is similar to the "tapes".

Also, "everyone here"? Really? Everyone at the G-20 is talking about John Podesta? They must not have much of an agenda.

Finally, Podesta had zero control over the DNC server - he was Clinton's campaign manager, not the head of the DNC. Apples and oranges, kiddies.

Podesta, currently on vacation - a cross-continental drive with his wife, tweeted back what really only could have been said:

Dude, get your head in the game. You’re representing the US at the G20.

We only know about surfaces of the things and know almost nothing about the dark world of money. Russian money and Trump and Putin. Hacking might have happened on its line.

takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.comToday  07:42 am JST

Lol who said anything about war with Russia?

A bunch of paranoid right-wingers who will try any deceitful trick they can to silence criticism of this president and his allies.

The meeting, originally scheduled for 35 minutes, clocked in at 2 hours and 16 minutes.

"There was so much to talk about," said Tillerson. "Neither one of them wanted to stop."

Looks like a serious bromance. Photo kinda says it all.

Yes. Throughout history wars have been preceded by just those kinds of words. Words and actions have consequences.

Ahh, so its "here, take my lunch money, just don't beat my up!"

Very robust reaction from Team Trump!

Yes, but before, we didn't even have that option, we weren't allowed to tap into any of our resources.

Nope. Not true:

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=MCRFPUS2&f=A

Yes, there is a huge flip side to that argument.

No, you just trotted out an entirely new argument.

You claimed the US didnt produce oil before Trump and now we know thats not true.

The meeting, originally scheduled for 35 minutes, clocked in at 2 hours and 16 minutes.

Poor old Trump. He can barely concentrate long enough to write a twitter, never mind a 136 minute meeting about Ukraine and all that other stuff. With Putin. One would be surprised if Trump actually knew where Ukraine is.

The Russians didn't 'hack the election' ( or whatever that means ). It's fake news. There's no evidence.

Trump is so far out of his depth it's almost embarrassing. Putin barely looked at him and nearly smirked a couple of times. A very black comedy.

You guys would rather take others money and wealth and punish them for their succes

Prove it. No one here has said anything of the sort. Quotes, please.

Lol who said anything about war with Russia?

It's the meme the Russia Today believers parrot, a continuation of their 'If Hillary gets elected...'

Russia and the US, with Trump, RExxon T, Kushner etal running things, care only about other nation's resources and how they can get them. However, how they divide the resources could result in tension.

It is unclear to me why Trump complains about Russian hacking of the US election. It got him elected president.

Dodgy Donald looking as dodgy as ever.

he's not a professional politician,

Yes he is. He is the President of the United States of America. His profession is literally that of the top politician. He's not only a professional politician, he's the top politician.

you can't hold him to the same standards as a seasoned career politician

Yes we can, because he is the President of the United States of America. Obama had relatively little political experience, and you never gave him any leeway whatsoever on that, and in fact you criticized him for it multiple times.

he's finding his way and learning

He's finding the wrong way and learning how not to do it.

it's a breath of fresh air to finally have someone that is not from the Washington establishment mainstream.

Filling the swamp is a breath of fresh air. Typical from the right.

Trump should rattle their cages if they decide to get cute, turn it inside out and leave No stone unturned.

Who's getting cute? Whose cages? What stones?

What is going on here?

Trump will give Putun a free pass on the hacking and will work to legitimize him on the world stage. Congress will be the ones to counter Putin, both Republicans and Democrats. Trump fans will swap talking points with Putin supporters, and the rest of us will try to counter that.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, said Trump had accepted Putin's assurances that Russia didn't meddle in the U.S. election 

He fired the guy on charge of the investigation, stage some questioning session to Putin about it to finally agree that nothing happened...what a circus indeed, hopefully the American people will directly seek and get the truth one day.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-summit-obama-medvedev-idUSBRE82P0JI20120326

Yes, a picture DOES say a lot!

Body language says a lot, absolutely. Comparing the two photos I'd say Obama looks like a much stronger leader.

It probably took that long for Dear Leader to memorize all the instructions Putin had for him.

Looks like a serious bromance. Photo kinda says it all.

Not a mutual bromance, it's a one way man crush. Putin looks at Trump rather condescendingly, while Trump is lit up, like a giddy school boy.

The only thing Trump values is the accumulation of wealth.

PTownsend, I generally agree with your views, but I think you're somewhat mistaken on this angle.

Trump is simply a particularly deranged individual whose accumulated wealth has made him feel that absolute power is the default next step. This is not only Trump's sickness, but a societal one, especially in neoliberal economies. Trump symbolizes something bigger. Obviously the fat cats don't want to lose their wealth, but the perverse trajectories of their economic status since the 1990s has transcended any material incentive. It is not enough to be rich. These people have enough anyway. These people want to shut down any discourse that discredits or threatens their status in power relations, in decisions about anything, for whatever reason. Theirs is an oligarchy of privileged narcissists. It is essentially nihilistic, and the post-ideological Republican Party has bought into it.

No, but I have two eyes and having properties all over the world, helicopters, planes, a TV show, casinos, I'll tell you what, he ain't got chump change in his pockets.

How do you know any of that? Absolutely dumb logic. Do you think asking each and Trump critic if they can "prove it" or if "Trump told them directly?" is a compelling argument?

I'll tell you its not, and adds little to the discussion.

Impossible, the salary of a president is $400,000 a year, that's nothing for someone like

When did Trump tell you that?

Yeah russia [sic] nonsense is done now. 

No, it is not--not even close to being "done." However, perhaps you can share your conclusions with Robert Mueller. I'm sure that you have information that he doesn't.

Putin said didn't [sic] do it . . .

Do you honestly believe that he would have admitted it? Seriously?

Trump and Putin have spoken now and moved on . . .

Do you know what was actually said? Did you read a transcript? As Zichi pointed out, no one but Trump, Putin, Tillerson, Lavrov, and the translators know what was said. However, perhaps in your mind, the conversation went something like this:

Trump: "Hey, Vlad, you rascal. Did you have anything to do with hacking the U.S. election last year?"

Putin: "What, me? Of course not! Cross my heart, hope to die, scout's honor, and all of that!"

Trump: "Ok then, good enough for me!" (good enough for the rubes back home, too)--Never mind about all of those reports from the FBI, CIA, and NSA--it's "fake news" and "deep state" stuff.

As there is no proof they can move on.

Perhaps the next time that Trump "confronts" Putin with this he can actually come prepared. If Putin wants proof, Trump can show him evidence collected from the FBI, NSA, and CIA.

@comraeteer  Throughout history wars have been preceded by just those kinds of words

Words are powerful, but I'm not aware of any world leader ever starting a war because of words. However, given how thin-skinned Trump is, you never know.

I think memes are powerful propaganda tools, but they're usually used to wind up the masses, e.g. 'lock her up' and 'drain the swamp'.

From what I've read wars are started 1. over control of resources (modern times think petroleum) and lands (the joint Stalin-Hitler dividing up of the 'borderland nations via Molotov-Ribbentrop comes to mind) , and 2. conflicting ideologies (e.g. fascism, communism, capitalism, religion, etc.).

But words?

Trump is so far out of his depth it's almost embarrassing. Putin barely looked at him and nearly smirked a couple of times. A very black comedy.

People who've met Putin have commented on his knowledge of issues and sharp mind. Low-information Trump usually strings together a chaotic jumble of sentences when pushed on issues. I'd hate to think what half-baked, ignorant gibberish Trump was polluting the air with over two hours.

This is where even Trump supporters have to admit he's at his weakest. He's good at put-downs, trash and winding similarly low-information people up at rallies, but he'll always be in trouble in these situations because he doesn't know his arse from his elbow on the substance and evidently can't be arsed learning anything new.

At least Xi was able to give him a dumbed-down lesson on North Korea. I wonder if Trump learned anything from uncle Vlad.

That's ok, he's not a professional politician, so you can't hold him to the same standards as a seasoned career politician. But it's good, he's finding his way and learning

Not being a seasoned politician is no excuse for knowing basically nothing about key issues. Have you heard this man attempt to speak at length on matters of importance? It's like releasing the end of an inflated balloon and watching it fly around the room making fart noises.

I don't think it's good idea to let him attend these kinds of summits. You may as well send Sarah Palin.

There is no excuse for this level of ignorance in a politician, let alone the most powerful politician in the world.

Professional and career are two words that cannot be used interchangeably

@PTown Worse than the 'Washington establishment' (whatever that means) he's a member of the global ruling class.

@bass No, but Bezos, Cook, Gates and Zuckenberg are without a doubt.

Trump has 500 businesses in 24 countries. He's part of the global ruling class. You've often said he must be smart because he's rich, so you'll have to admit that because Bezos, Cook, Gates and Zuckerberg are much richer than Trump, they must be much smarter. But because Trump is using the White House to get even richer (some call that conflict of interest), he might close some of the gap between his wealth and the others.

Based on the financial disclosure report he filed last year, Trump appears to own or control more than 500 businesses in some two-dozen countries around the world.

http://time.com/4629308/donald-trump-business-deals-world-map/

Yeah, ok, but did he tell you?

Did he tell you he's a billionaire? How do you know he warned Putin? How do you know he's really putting America first?

You don't know, you can't possibly know if you claim that hearing directly from Donny is the only way to know for certain.

No, Trump DID NOT confront Putin. As soon as the door closed, he sat on Putin's lap and had his hair stroked.

Trump: "He said he didn't do it, and you know what? (little hands shrugging from the waist) even though Obama couldn't stop Russian meddling in the election, which he knew about, and I believe they didn't meddle! You know what? I won the election. I had never met Putin before the election, but even those times I met him before the election I knew he was a great guy, a great guy. Had some while parties with Vlad. But I never met him until just today. So, we don't know who did it? Maybe Russia did! Who knows? I don't care... don't care. But the fact remains Obama knew about them meddling, which they did but he thought the Dems would win. I won, I won by 10 million votes. He tapped my office which is why he knew about the Russians, but there's no proof they meddled because I won. Who knows? We'll never know."

bass4funk: "That's ok, he's not a professional politician"

No other career in the world will allow the top boss to be a mere apprentice, and the President of the US -- arguably the most powerful person in the world -- should NEVER be someone to start with the training wheels when they take the reigns. You guys don't realize how stupid a defense that is for Trump being inept. Or rather, you do realize how stupid it is but since it's your guy just deflect and suddenly pretend it's all fine and dandy. I seem to recall a whole LOT of complaints about how Obama was only a "one-term senator", had no military background, and didn't have the required experience, but suddenly a failed businessman is not only okay, but you see him as a god?

@bass That's ok, he's not a professional politician

He himself admitted he was a politician when he whined 'no politician in history has been treated worse than me'. That it's been amateur hour since he's been elected should worry any thinking person.

you can't hold him to the same standards as a seasoned career politician.

He's the leader of the US; he must be held to the highest standards. Every second he's in office, even when he's on the golf course (where's he's spent more time than any president ever; and at the taxpayer's expense no less) he MUST be held accountable and to the highest standards.

someone that is not from the Washington establishment mainstream.

Worse than the 'Washington establishment' (whatever that means) he's a member of the global ruling class. He cares more about his international investments than he does about Washington DC, Washington state, or any other place in the US.

Trump again demonstrating why he's unfit for office. That's hardly "confronting" Putin. They must be laughing their butts off in the Kremlin. Trump again try to be on all sides of an issue.

Trump doesn't need to provide Putin with a view into our intelligence, doesn't need to ask the Russians if they did it. He just simply needs to make it clear we know and we'll respond if it ever happens again. And maybe disappear some of Putin's inner circle's money for good measure.

Never thought Trump became president to increase his wealth, since he's not picking up his salary and instead donating it to good curse. 

Point taken. On the other hand, how much have Trump's corporations billed the US government for services, food, lodging etc. at his various properties?

If he would release his tax records (not the sanitized one) and investment info, the public might know.

6 months and over 12 of the most powerful lawyers in the country and at least 5 of them heavy Democrat donors, if Trump was involved in colluding with the Russians, it would have been known already and would have been brought out ASAP to the public and Trump haters.

Not true. The initial Watergate investigations took a year before people in the Nixon administration were charged with crimes. It took another year for the evidence to build up to the point of forcing Nixon to resign, so your 6-month time-frame and conclusion that any evidence against Trump "would have been brought out ASAP" is premature and historically inaccurate.

Or the left can stop coming up with outrageously funny conclusions.....and they are funny.

The above comment has nothing to do with the actual facts given by the NSA, FBI, and CIA, now does it? Those agencies did not base their findings on the left's "outrageously funny conclusions." Stop trying to deflect and try commenting on the actual facts instead.

As far as "outrageously funny conclusions" are concerned, the die-hard Trump supporters who post on this site that the whole Russia "thing" is done or is a big "nothing burger" are the ones who can stop coming to their own conclusions. The fact is, the investigation is ongoing, and new discoveries are being made weekly. It's time to sit back and watch how all of this shakes out before making any declarations of guilt or innocence.

Trump meeting his boss?!

Don't forget Don Putin's 3 grand tracksuits...

Some sources have claimed Putin is worth more than Trump

The only thing Trump values is the accumulation of wealth. He ran for president wanting to get richer (and pay off his debts). He saw how rich Putin has got by being able to manipulate who controlled Russia's natural resources. Putin had few judicial and legislative obstacles in his way. The Russian system had collapsed, leaving him the ability to take carte blanche control over the country.

Trump still has both the US judicial and legislative branches to contend with, but if he can stay in power long enough, and his health permits, it looks like he could be able to limit their constraints on him.

The richest of the rich will get even richer while Trump and Putin are in power. The wealth gap will further widen.

It's the era of the oligarch, after all. It's the era when predatory businesses will be allowed to consume even more of the world's resources for the benefit of the few.

And both Trump and Putin are backed by huge militaries with arsenals filled with the most frightening weapons the world has seen.

Who's getting cute? Whose cages? What stones? 

What is going on here?

Absolutely nothing the left would know about.

Ridiculuous standard. i guess we're not allowed to talk about any news?

Yeah, ok, but did he tell you?

Still looking back, though, the Russians asked for "proof and evidence" of Moscow's involvement in the 2016 election. Just a day earlier, Trump had said Russia probably meddled in the election, but that other countries probably did, too.

Funny how the US never provides any evidence. Seems all they really have is the assumption that everyone is spying on everyone, so the Russians probably spied on the US.

Ahh, so its "here, take my lunch money, just don't beat my up!"

No, it's more like don't inflate nothing into something that could cause war because it helps your local political battles. And don't distract people from real issues.

Body language says a lot, absolutely. Comparing the two photos I'd say Obama looks like a much stronger leader.

That is very debatable, but what's not, both presidents past and present whispered a lot of things and made a loot of promises and deals, nothing new.

No, you just trotted out an entirely new argument.

No, there is really another side to that argument, it's morning, coffee time!

You claimed the US didnt produce oil before Trump and now we know thats not true.

Oh, dear me! If it seemed so, I apologize. It was the environmentalists that tried to block them at every single turn, thank God those days are gone. Dodged another bullet.

Aw shucks!

What has become of Americans and their much vaunted top echelon democracy and top tier , one of a kind incorruptible and Star Wars class individual 'I'm your captain ' type of freeeddoommm?

Your blamin Russia for H.C.'s defeat in your elections where not a single Russian voted is both laughable and pathetic!

You are only insulting your much valued intelligence and strong sense of freedom to choose you prexy.

Blamin them Russians just make you people appear like zombies ( no power to use ones own gray matter) to the rest of the world!

C'mon guys ! You're all much betta that that!

Yeah russia nonsense is done now. Trump and Putin have spoken now and moved on to more productive matters. trump brought up the hacking that all the media said he wouldn't. Putin said didn't do it and provide him some proof. As there is no proof they can move on.

Melania sat next to Putin at dinner last night when will her collusion investigation start?

What has become of Americans and their much vaunted top echelon democracy and top tier , one of a kind incorruptible and Star Wars class individual 'I'm your captain ' type of freeeddoommm?

Your blamin Russia for H.C.'s defeat in your elections where not a single Russian voted is both laughable and pathetic!

You are only insulting your much valued intelligence and strong sense of freedom to choose you prexy.

Blamin them Russians just make you people appear like zombies ( no power to use ones own gray matter) to the rest of the world!

C'mon guys ! You're all much betta that that.

please don't tell them that. Watching children play in a sandbox is entertaining.

No, it is not--not even close to being "done." However, perhaps you can share your conclusions with Robert Mueller. I'm sure that you have information that he doesn't.

6 months and over 12 of the most powerful lawyers in the country and at least 5 of them heavy Democrat donors, if Trump was involved in colluding with the Russians, it would have been known already and would have been brought out ASAP to the public and Trump haters. On the other hand, Flynn and Manafort are in a more pickled situation.

Do you honestly believe that he would have admitted it? Seriously?

No, so that's my point, we all can't and shouldn't speculate on anything what was or what was not said, we don't know, guessing something does not make it an actually fact.

Perhaps the next time that Trump "confronts" Putin with this he can actually come prepared. If Putin wants proof, Trump can show him evidence collected from the FBI, NSA, and CIA.

Or the left can stop coming up with outrageously funny conclusions.....and they are funny.

Trump again demonstrating why he's unfit for office. That's hardly "confronting" Putin. They must be laughing their butts off in the Kremlin. Trump again try to be on all sides of an issue.

I don't see how the man is unfit. How do we know all the details? We don't and when these two sit there with all the cameras rolling and photos being taken, you really think that the confrontation takes minutes and we know all the details? Come on! This goes for every president not just Trump and I do believe they are laughing their butts off in the Kremlin when they see how obsessed the left is with the Russian collusion thing is taken so out of hand by the left to the utmost extreme, I'd be laughing my butt off as well.

Yes he is. He is the President of the United States of America. His profession is literally that of the top politician. He's not only a professional politician, he's the top politician.

He's a professional politician, did he serve in the Senate? Was he ever a member of Congress? If either of the two questions are NO, then that would conclude that the man was never a career politician. Now the left will come up with whatever narrative colors the day, I get it, but on the real....

Yes we can, because he is the President of the United States of America.

Not really, as far as competency of the presidency goes. Obama didn't know anything, he learned on the job, big difference, he studied politics.

No other career in the world will allow the top boss to be a mere apprentice, and the President of the US -- arguably the most powerful person in the world -- should NEVER be someone to start with the training wheels when they take the reigns.

Ok, that's your opinion, but we are a free nation, therefore we get to choose the person we see fit to lead us, everyone has a say, each person and each state is represented, that's our college electorate system.

You guys don't realize how stupid a defense that is for Trump being inept. Or rather, you do realize how stupid it is but since it's your guy just deflect and suddenly pretend it's all fine and dandy. I seem to recall a whole LOT of complaints about how Obama was only a "one-term senator", had no military background, and didn't have the required experience,

Yes, it's true, but we don't need to go back to those awful years again. Move forward

but suddenly a failed businessman is not only okay, but you see him as a god?

Failed, hardly, got the cash, the planes, the choppers, the homes, golf courses, the books, the TV hit show, so if that's failure, then I hate to see what success looks like. ROFL

I don't think it's good idea to let him attend these kinds of summits. You may as well send Sarah Palin. 

There is no excuse for this level of ignorance in a politician, let alone the most powerful politician in the world.

Palin wouldn't be bad, tough, conservative at least she ran a State, (and looks great!) but seriously, I disagree, Trump should rattle their cages if they decide to get cute, turn it inside out and leave No stone unturned.

Did he tell you he's a billionaire?

No, but I have two eyes and having properties all over the world, helicopters, planes, a TV show, casinos, I'll tell you what, he ain't got chump change in his pockets.

How do you know he warned Putin?

You and I don't know that...or this whole this is a nothing burger.

How do you know he's really putting America first?

You don't know, you can't possibly know if you claim that hearing directly from Donny is the only way to know for certain.

Back at you, but Trump is most definitely putting America first, because he could leave this job and return to a very normal life and a good one, he doesn't need the aggravation and put himself and his family through this crap.

The only thing Trump values is the accumulation of wealth.

Which is great! All the more reason to focus on jobs and infrastructure and rebuilding the economy (jobs report looking good) with that type of mindset!

He ran for president wanting to get richer (and pay off his debts).

Impossible, the salary of a president is $400,000 a year, that's nothing for someone like

Trump, maybe like $200 for you and me. He's got his own money, but being president is not going to pay for any of his debts, No way!

He saw how rich Putin has got by being able to manipulate who controlled Russia's natural resources. Putin had few judicial and legislative obstacles in his way. The Russian system had collapsed, leaving him the ability to take carte blanche control over the country. 

Impossible, but I do love how libs embellish stories, funny.

Trump still has both the US judicial and legislative branches to contend with, but if he can stay in power long enough, and his health permits, it looks like he could be able to limit their constraints on him. 

Never, by the way, he looks pretty healthy to me with that schedule.

The richest of the rich will get even richer while Trump and Putin are in power. The wealth gap will further widen.

So what should be done about it and if the former president is going to get $60 million for a book deal, how much of that money should he give back to help the poor?

It's the era of the oligarch, after all. It's the era when predatory businesses will be allowed to consume even more of the world's resources for the benefit of the few.

And both Trump and Putin are backed by huge militaries with arsenals filled with the most frightening weapons the world has seen.

My gosh, where on Earth do you get this stuff from? Lol

I don't know what more people want. He confronted Putin and he said he didn't do it. As there is no actual proof that he did do it, other than democratic talking points, what can trump say?

Give me the evidence, Putin says. Ummm....don't have any yet but the media expects me to blame you anyway. Ok, I'm blamed let's move on. What do you guys want Trump to do when he has no evidence to show him?

Prove it. No one here has said anything of the sort. Quotes, please.

You don't have to say, the Democratic party doesn't create jobs at least not in the private sector, they're good at dishing out welfare and siphoning as much taxes as they can and as a result of all that income redistribution they're not in power anymore anywhere, that should be more than enough proof.

How do you know any of that? Absolutely dumb logic.

Don't think so.

Do you think asking each and Trump critic if they can "prove it" or if "Trump told them directly?" is a compelling argument?

No, but you are saying stuff about the man without a shred of evidence, if you don't like the guy or have an emotional outburst and want to vent, I get it, but saying things without backed up verifiable facts makes you look like....well, let's just say, sadly ill-informed.

I'll tell you its not, and adds little to the discussion.

I'll tell you it is.

When did Trump tell you that?

He didn't, but CNN, FNC and msnbc did a few years ago

who said anything about war with Russia?

Yes. Throughout history wars have been preceded by just those kinds of words. Words and actions have consequences. Isn't that what all the anti=trumpists used to say?

And the irony of the US, by far the global leader in hacking elections around the world, complaining about Russia. If risking war with Russia helps get rid of Trump, it's worth it then? Seems very short-term to me, but local politics always is.

This is where even Trump supporters have to admit he's at his weakest. He's good at put-downs, trash and winding similarly low-information people up at rallies, but he'll always be in trouble in these situations because he doesn't know his arse from his elbow on the substance and evidently can't be arsed learning anything new.

That's ok, he's not a professional politician, so you can't hold him to the same standards as a seasoned career politician. But it's good, he's finding his way and learning and it's a breath of fresh air to finally have someone that is not from the Washington establishment mainstream.

Worse than the 'Washington establishment' (whatever that means) he's a member of the global ruling class.

No, but Bezos, Cook, Gates and Zuckenberg are without a doubt.

He cares more about his international investments than he does about Washington DC, Washington state, or any other place in the US.

He told you this?

Plus CNN coverage is garbage again. They blaming Trump because he is at odds with the world on climate and trade.

Yes as he was elected to get us out of Paris climate accord and to get us out of bad trade deals that's exactly what he is supposed to be. At odds with world leaders who want what's best for them. Trump doing what he was ejected to do, to put America first.

Trump claims Obama choked in Obama's response to the Russian meddling

He did. Even his own Democratic party said he did. Also, he was the President for eight years knowing full well what Russia was up too and did nothing. Trump has been the President for a whopping 7 months and has already confronted Putin face to face about numerous issues regarding Russian hacking, Syria, Isis........

At least Trump has the b@lls to keep the communication doors open to the possibility of trying to improve relations between Russia and the U.S.A. Funny how most people think Trump is so pompous when clearly it was Obama that was the stuck up, pompous spoiled President.

Russiagate is over, it was over before it even started. More scandals await. Move on.

Spoken like a true liberal. You guys would rather take others money and wealth and punish them for their success because "it's not fair" give me a break. Rob Paul to give to Peter. I make a lot of money and I would never be ashamed of it and if other people don't like it, they can do what I did, work my tail off. It tickles me that the left want to demonize Trump and the wealthy conservatives, but the big fat mega-super powerful rich leftist elites, they are doing something noble for mankind, you guys crack me up. Keep feeding the deers and the squirrels. Smh.

Glad Trump is standing in the way of so many here and elsewhere who want war with Russia. Time to stop demonizing the world and look at the very real problems in the USA.

Nope. Not true:

Yes, there is a huge flip side to that argument.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/04/how_the_environmentalists_are_destroying_california.html

Trump leans in and whispers, "Okay Vlad, got to make it look like I'm giving you a hard time about the hacking".

Putin replies, 

"Don't worry, Donald, I know you don't mean it." and gives him a thumbs up.

2012

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-summit-obama-medvedev-idUSBRE82P0JI20120326

Yes, a picture DOES say a lot!

Russia and the US, with Trump, RExxon T, Kushner etal running things, care only about other nation's resources and how they can get them. However, how they divide the resources could result in tension.

Yes, but before, we didn't even have that option, we weren't allowed to tap into any of our resources.

Trump confronts Putin on election hacking in first meeting

That's not going to be good enough for the far Left in America. Trump is going to have to get very serious in order to satisfy their seething anger over Hillary's blowing a sure thing to The Donald.

Trump needs to pull out all the stops and follow Obama's lead by straight forwardly telling Putin to "cut it out" and by throwing out a few more Russian diplomats. Only such drastic Obama-like penalties will satiate the American Left's demands for justice.