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© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Trump says it would be a 'smart thing' if he spoke to Putin, though he won't confirm he has
By JILL COLVIN and STEVE PEOPLES CHICAGO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
64 Comments
plasticmonkey
A president should never have "very good" personal relationships with dictators. He will become their useful idiot.
Wonder what Putin is offering Trump in the case that he wins.
dagon
If there was really a 'Deep State' on a witch hunt against Trump the NSA would have a whistleblower suddenly appear this October with the recordings of Trump receiving his marching orders from Putin.
ulysses
It’s time to wheel him into a fake Oval Office on the back nine of Trump National, tell him he won, hand him a Diet Coke, a “Noble Prize”, a pic of Ivanka and a Happy Meal, play a montage video of despots praising him, quietly close the door & walk away.
Underworld
Yeah, because of the Logan act...
Yup. Trump is Putin's useful idiot.
We saw how easy it was for Kamala to manipulate Trump in the debate.
Putin is a master manipulator: Trump is putty in his hands.
lincolnman
What? The Moron comments on everything from Hannibal Lector to the dangers of sharks - yet he won't comment on whether he's been having late night girl talks with his BFF Putin? Give me a break...
Vlad has likely been giving him tips on using Novichuk - Harris better check those doorknobs before touching them...
Wow, there is so much dictator love there...you can just tell he wants to join the tyrant club...
But given his severe mental breakdown over the past several months, there's little chance of that - unless he decides to flee to Russia or China after losing with a few Top Secret docs he's hidden away...
wallace
He surely spoke with Putin.
Ken
Ya the 3 out of the 4 dictators of the world. Of course he is buddy buddy with them
stormcrow
Trump’s a fascist. His own people, fellow republicans, are calling him this.
itsonlyrocknroll
Donald Trump should refrain from making any attempt communicating with former Kremlin spy Russian President Vladimir Putin, neither smart or sanctioned.
Putin won't hesitate to take full political advantage, to destabilise, fan discourse, create division, undermine unity.
Cards fan
I wonder if dances to the music on camera for 40 minutes like he does at his Townhalls. The idea that this poor old guy could stand up to Putin or stand up for the US is laughable.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Considering he is an treasonous ah, no, it would not be a good thing for him to talk to Putin.
lincolnman
Trump: "Hey Vlad, my main man, what's shakin? How are those WW II missiles and bombs you got from our BFF Kim working? Things here are rough - Kamala is beating the crap out of me - I'll be lucky to get 30% of the vote, even with all my voting suppression efforts. But I do appreciate all the help with your disinformation campaign - especially the false narrative about Biden sending money to immigrants instead of FEMA - that was a good one - and all my brain-dead supporters bought it....while sitting in their basements....HAHAHA"....
dagon
The interviews at MAGA rallies are a source of endless black comedy.
Some recent ones have interviewers asking the MAGA faithful who would they rather vote for President: Harris or Putin?
And the answer almost invariably is : Putin; and some variation of because Putin loves his country and Kamala is a communist.
The union of Trump cult and Russian propaganda is truly a dangerous thing.
Blacklabel
It would be a smart thing.
we can’t have “leaders” who try to lead by avoiding communication with the other leaders.
It’s weak, like they are scared to talk.
plasticmonkey
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
--The Logan Act
ulysses
Very smart sir, it will be useful evidence in his treason trial.
Very true sir, what a leader donald is, all his orifices never stop excreting !!
Yes sir, he will be the bravest man in prison!!!!
bass4funk
Obama violated it and from the Dems, not a single word….
Zaphod
Of course it is. Speaking to opponents is what diplomacy is all about. Do the writers suggest that completely ignoring another superpower, while conducting proxy wars against them, is a rational policy? But the media guideline seems to be: Whatever Trump says or does, bash him for it.
BB
This is one of maybe 100 very good reasons why he should be ushered to the sidelines of history once and for all, but his followers can't see any of it. Many prominent Republicans, including half the staff from his former administration, say he's unfit. Who would know better than them?
plasticmonkey
When?
plasticmonkey
First of all, Trump is not President. Read the Logan Act.
Blacklabel
--The Logan Act
https://www.politico.eu/article/barack-obama-uk-prime-minister-rishi-sunak-downing-street/
Blacklabel
--The Logan Act
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/15/1037454733/milley-defends-call-to-chinese-general-about-trump
plasticmonkey
Anyway, according to the Trump campaign, Trump never spoke with Putin. It's all made up.
So no need to play the "whatabout Dems?" false equivalence card.
Norm
Wow! Alert the press!
When did this happen, and what did he do?
Cards fan
No. There's nothing smart about abusing a poor elderly man like Trump.
Putin would eat his lunch.
lol
Yes. That explains why Trump just backed out of yet another interview. What's he so afraid of? Anyone else think his campaign is trying (and failing) to cover up how senile he's gone?
Coulda been
Trump and the word "smart" are at either end of the intellect scale.
ulysses
Sir, you need to understand the Logan act before posting, some people might say your ignorance is showing.
Not me though, I think you are a genius at copy and paste!!!
ulysses
Sir, you need to understand the Logan act before posting, some people might say your ignorance is showing.
Not me though, I think you are a genius at running imaginary businesses !!!
bass4funk
Neither are Obama or Kerry
https://slingshot.news/did-barack-obama-violate-the-logan-act-with-british-pm-meeting/
https://nypost.com/2024/03/13/us-news/house-gop-wants-john-kerry-records-of-iran-shadow-diplomacy-during-trump-presidency/
What was said in this so called meeting
Can’t deny history, even the Dems are not that good.
ok1517
Of course he (Trump) spoke with his buddy (Putain) in the Kremlin!
Before, during and after his tenure as one of the worst Presidents of the US.
He (Trump) asked for favors, offered favors, provided favors - selling out to the highest bidder.
He (Trump) and his family (clan) are just like the pot and kettle thing.
Blacklabel
you mean true equivalence?
plasticmonkey
According to the "Slingshot News" article you posted:
While it’s important to ask the question, the Logan Act clearly states that the country that the citizen is negotiating with be a “having a dispute with the United States.” To our knowledge, there is no current dispute between the U.K. and the U.S., neither is there a conflict between Belgium and the U.S.
Nice own goal.
Blacklabel
No just scared leftist that know an election they are losing is days away.
tickety tockety.
plasticmonkey
You may be in for one helluva surprise.
Blacklabel
Trump can’t use law from the 1700s to remove violent criminal aliens!
Trump can’t use law from the 1700s to justify gun ownership!
also the left: muh Logan Act 1789! (but only Trump, not our guys)
bass4funk
How do you know they’re buddies?
Not even close, that would be Biden, Hoover and Harding.
According to what source? NPR, ABC, NYT?
Most Americans don’t think so.
stormcrow
Trump’s a wannabe dictator!
He said so himself!
Cards fan
lol Totally. It's very normal for a candidate to stop his townhall and dance to music for 40 minutes.
Totally normal to back out of multiple interviews in a week.
Poor guy doesn't know what a tariff is or where he even is.
Someone stop the elder abuse.
Blacklabel
as may you. lol
I don’t know why you are blind to what is happening here.
bass4funk
No, you’re missing the point. You say that there is nothing to prove that Obama violated the Logan Act, well, there you go, there is nothing that showed Trump violated it as well. And another miss for the left….again.
Cards fan
I'm sure you're as right here as you were with your J6 predictions about being able to overturn the election results. lmao
A record number of people are coming out to vote in GA, and somehow you think this is bad for Democrats.
Back to reality, Maga.
Blacklabel
did you intentionally exclude the China one?
is there a current dispute or conflict between the USA and Russia? (Be careful….think.)
you forgot this part too:
Hervé L'Eisa
The Logan Act does not prohibit ALL communication between a private individual and a foreign government or agent thereof, but rather narrowly specifying "... with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States..."
So yes, certain communication is prohibited (such as Kerry's, etc).
bass4funk
If Dems are making a big deal out of this, then it shows they’re grabbing at straws at this point
Trump did 58 in total and Harris did 16, you kidding me??
According to the left, good lord….
Blacklabel
odd this wasn’t your default position relating to Biden. When it was really happening not just a nonsensical claim.
none of what you claimed an issue is illegal or immoral or even concerning.
and will have zero impact on voting.
Man I was gonna vote for Trump but that 30 mins of playing classical music went over the line!
Cards fan
Alas Biden wasn't dancing on stage for 40 minutes, nor are we talking about Biden. He's not even running.
lol
You heard it here first: It's totally normal to stop a townhall and dance around to music for 40 minutes.
You're a MAGA "patriot," most voters aren't. Normal people would be appalled and embarassed to have this old know-nothing loser represent them.
ulysses
Very important point sir, is Ivanka still getting paid by the Chinese???
Sir, you think like no other, some might say hardly but I say very hard.
Russia is our neighbor Sarah Palin sees them from her window every morning!!!
ok1517
Bass, see, we finally agree!
I said one of the worst! Ranking 3rd at the best!
Concerning this:
Most Americans don’t think so.
Most Americans do think so. The majority of Americans (US citizens) will send Trump to where he belongs.
After being treated for his borderline personality disorder he'll go to some high security facility.
lincolnman
It was something you couldn't stop posting about when Biden was a candidate...
Illegal? That would be the 34 felonies... Immoral? Wow, where to start - ask Melania.... Concerning? Oh yea, a 78 year old guy wiggling for 39 minutes to a gay anthem by a gay group to a bunch of "conservatives? WEIRD!
Says who?
"YMCA" is classical music? You're a fan of the Village People too? Never knew you were so pro-LBGTQ....
plasticmonkey
What's happening here?
Norm
True, sir, true. Trump was able to silently dance and sway for over thirty minutes with laser-like focus at a recent “town hall Q & A.” I don’t think Biden has the stamina to zone out for that long.
And Trump doesn’t need the Easter Bunny for a friend. He has the cannibal guy.
Few q’s, lots of tiny fist stuff.
3D-chess* at work.
(*The “D” standing for “dementia.”)
TaiwanIsNotChina
Part of me wants a Trump victory so I can see all of the MAGAs furiously explain how Trump got the best deal ever from Putin.
M1984FA
The premise in the article that it is a bad thing for an American president to talk to Putin is extremely strange.
Talking to an opposing superpower is of course an absolute necessity. In what world can you conduct policy when ignoring an opponent? Even during the Cuba missile crisis, there was intense communication between Kennedy and Chrushchew. It would have been disastrous if Kennedy had ignored the Kremlin.
Cards fan
In what world is Trump now a world leader? That's the context of his denial. Not talking to Putin as president, but as a private citizen.
Blacklabel
joy and vibes coming from full confidence that you are winning.
the attendees had fun.
ok1517
To make it very clear:
Trump's interview was a disaster, for him and his followers!
No clear yes or no answers.
Deranged comments.
Off topic replies.
Admiring dictators.
And so on.
And this is what people want to be the next POTUS?
BB
Brags about having a "very good relationship" with Kim Jong Un. Why can't he forge good relationships with his actual allies? What a creep.
Underworld
Blacklabel
It's totally normal to stop a townhall and dance around to music for 40 minutes.
If he was winning he wouldn't be turning down so many interviews, Q&A's.
I think he would rather be campaigning from his basement.
Rallies are OK, just as long as nobody asks him a question.
M1984FA
Cards fan
Even as a private citizen, it would of course be a good thing to speak to a political opponent. Communication is the foundation of diplomacy. Where did we get to the idea that non-communication is a good thing??
Cards fan
Back to reality, Maga. The only reason it's even "close" is because the GOP/MAGA have done more polls in the last few weeks than non-partisan pollsters to make it look that way. People aren't duped, and that's why Georgia just set a record for the first day of early voting.
lol Not the ones leaving. Noem certainly wasn't having fun either.
Honestly, there's no defending his antics at this point, MAGA is just a cult.
Cards fan
Really? It would be a good idea to violate the Logan Act? What is gained by having a know-nothing like Trump talk with Putin? Sharing dance moves, I suppose?
Blacklabel
Boy this dancing is really all the left has anymore leading up to the impending shock of their loss.
what kind of person so hates YMCA? It’s fun.