WASHINGTON — Republicans across the ideological spectrum delivered pointed rebukes to President Trump after Monday’s extraordinary news conference with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
House Speaker Paul Ryan admonished Trump and declared, “There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia.’’
The Wisconsin Republican was joined by other Republicans whose reactions ranged from silence to disappointment to shock at the way Trump publicly dismissed the conclusions of his own national intelligence director that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, blamed both the United States and Russia for poor relations between the two countries, and seemingly invited Russia to cooperate with the investigation being led by Robert Mueller, the special counsel.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, released a statement calling Trump’s appearance “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.’’
“It is tempting to describe the news conference as a pathetic rout — as an illustration of the perils of under-preparation and inexperience,’’ said McCain, who is battling brain cancer.
“But these were not the errant tweets of a novice politician,’’ McCain said. “These were the deliberate choices of a president who seems determined to realize his delusions of a warm relationship with Putin’s regime without any regard for the true nature of his rule, his violent disregard for the sovereignty of his neighbors, his complicity in the slaughter of the Syrian people, his violation of international treaties, and his assault on democratic institutions throughout the world.’’
McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, concluded: “No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are — a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad.’’
His fellow Republican senator from Arizona, Jeff Flake, released his own rebuke: “I never thought that I would see the day when our American president would stand on the stage with the Russian president and place blame on the United States for aggression. This is shameful.’’
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said he stands behind the US intelligence community’s conclusion that the Russians interfered in the election.
‘‘The Russians are not our friends,’’ the Kentucky Republican told reporters.
But no Republican in Congress pledged any particular action to punish Trump, such as holding up his nominees, nor did they promise hearings or increased oversight.
It was left to the Democrats to deliver the harshest messages.
“In the entire history of our country, Americans have never seen a president of the United States support an American adversary the way President Trump has supported President Putin,’’ said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, the minority leader.
“A single, ominous question now hangs over the White House: What could possibly cause President Trump to put the interests of Russia over those of the United States?’’ Schumer said “Millions of Americans will continue to wonder if the only possible explanation for this dangerous behavior is the possibility that President Putin holds damaging information over President Trump.’’
Senator Ed Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, called Trump’s performance a “national embarrassment.’’
Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, the retiring chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he “did not think this was a good moment for our country.’’
“It was almost an approval, if you will, a public approval by the greatest nation on earth toward [Putin],’’ Corker told reporters. “I’d guess he’s having caviar right now.’’
In the House, Representative Peter King, Republican of New York, former chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said it was “totally wrong’’ for the president to suggest “moral equivalency between the United States and Russia.’’ And as to Trump’s declaration that Russia should cooperate with Mueller’s investigation, King said, “It would be like bringing ISIS into a joint terrorism task force.’’
