The day before his highly criticized closed door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump tweeted to defend Russia against the real enemy. And who is the villain in Russo-American relations?
According to Trump, it is the United States.
On Sunday, the United States President tweeted this message:
Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!"
Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1531721129.0
And at least one Twitter account agrees fully with the President's assessment on the reasons for tensions between the the United States and Russia: MFA Russia 🇷🇺.
In response to Trump's tweet, they retweeted it with their concurrence, simply stating "We agree."
We agree https://t.co/7l087Qwmj3— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@MFA Russia 🇷🇺) 1531736650.0
But who does this agreement come from?
The account description reads "Official twitter-account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia." It is, in fact, the verified official English voice of the Russian government on Twitter.
It is no secret that Trump is a great fan of Putin. He praises the Russian leader often publicly, despite the criticism his allegiance to Putin creates for him.
@realDonaldTrump I'd say you have a great relationship with a lying, murderous, dictator who directly attacked our… https://t.co/DhCQ1vq4Xo— Michael McKinley (@Michael McKinley) 1531751951.0
During a recent rally in Great Falls, Montana, Trump stated —despite what any of our allies, other members of the United States government or National Security advisers say— Putin is "fine." The moment was caught on video and drew further criticism for the President's failure to acknowledge the facts of Russian aggression against the world.
But aside from the Russian government agreeing with him, the President is receiving considerable pushback on his claims of United States "foolishness" and "stupidity". A breakdown of the tensions between the United States government —and other governments around the world— and the government of President Vladimir Putin paints a different picture.
People on Twitter are providing lists of the actions taken by the Putin government that led to Russia's expulsion from the G7, expulsion of Russian diplomats by U.S. allies, and sanctions placed against the Russian government.
@realDonaldTrump The relationship w/ Russia is bad because: 1. Putin is a dictator; 2. Russia invaded the Ukraine… https://t.co/2QuQloIeIW— Michele Martindill (@Michele Martindill) 1531748811.0
@Docsociology4 @realDonaldTrump Don’t forget the murder of innocents aboard a commercial Malaysian airliner.— Scott Freak (@Scott Freak) 1531749340.0
@daddy0kcmo @Docsociology4 @realDonaldTrump and Smolensk !!!! Polish President and 95 officials was killed during… https://t.co/9dEVDfoxJd— Ala Nowak (@Ala Nowak) 1531749778.0
@realDonaldTrump Yep, our relationship with Russia has never been worse because of their fake elections, aggression… https://t.co/ErYjomkXHV— Cyndy Stachowiak (@Cyndy Stachowiak) 1531749324.0
@realDonaldTrump giving Russia a free pass with all your tweets and remarks against the DOJ and the free press, rel… https://t.co/tB45XpzPpL— Cyndy Stachowiak (@Cyndy Stachowiak) 1531749651.0
@Grove_Street2x @realDonaldTrump And invaded their neighbor, and shot down a passenger plane, and poisoned several… https://t.co/CNgGL5TK7Q— Ian’s Life Model Decoy (@Ian’s Life Model Decoy) 1531753111.0
People are also taking issue with the President's repeated use of the term witch hunt to describe an investigation into the interference by a foreign government during the 2016 presidential election.
While in one tweet Trump acknowledges the interference by Russia and hacking by Russian government officials occurred, while blaming President Obama, in the very next tweet Trump defends Russia and calls the investigation a witch hunt.
President Obama thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI abou… https://t.co/HPrvsFL4qT— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1531719425.0
The Mueller investigation has yielded multiple indictments, guilty pleas and one prison sentence for Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
@realDonaldTrump https://t.co/KFrF2mEgh7— Cyndy Stachowiak (@Cyndy Stachowiak) 1531749710.0
@CyndyStachowiak @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/N2EEjkeXTP— (((Feddi Up))) (@(((Feddi Up)))) 1531750454.0
The constant defense of Russia and Putin by a United States' President in opposition to his own government and country again raised questions of where the President's allegiance lies: the United States or Russia.
@realDonaldTrump My country is not foolish and stupid, you are. And you are a threat to our national security, you… https://t.co/ircf4Em65n— Amanda Hell Yes Crumley (@Amanda Hell Yes Crumley) 1531753283.0
@realDonaldTrump ⁉️WHAT⁉️ @realDonaldTrump *blames us* not #Russia🇷🇺 for our bad relationship? He might as well ha… https://t.co/c5CwXm0FvG— Dr. Dena Grayson (@Dr. Dena Grayson) 1531748931.0
I’ve spent 68 yrs in this nation. I’ve seen moments sublime, mediocre, and regrettable. But I have never, til this… https://t.co/cJ62eJacot— Ron Perlman (@Ron Perlman) 1531682743.0
@realDonaldTrump Trump Over the Cliff; or, Dear Putin, You Are the Wind Beneath My Oil Pan. #PaulManafort… https://t.co/WEBXHdISLn— Andrei Rublev ►Drei (@Andrei Rublev ►Drei ) 1531749156.0
@realDonaldTrump #TreasonSummit #TreasonSummit #TreasonSummit #TreasonSummit #TreasonSummit #TreasonSummit… https://t.co/sUm13nD9jk— Grams a Witch (@Grams a Witch) 1531735354.0
@PalmerReport @realDonaldTrump You know Putin has dirt on Trump there is no reason for this we don't need anything… https://t.co/EntRI7J2IJ— 🌸Motts🌸 (@🌸Motts🌸) 1531753667.0