As he watches Europe’s confrontation with President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be enjoying an “I told you so” moment.
European leaders long ignored his warnings about the dangers of a world dominated by the United States, Putin said Thursday during his nationally broadcast annual call-in show. With Trump’s new metals tariffs, Putin said, Europeans are now finally getting their comeuppance for showing excessive deference to Washington — and getting a taste of the way the United States had long treated Russia. (our emphasis)Through petulance, ignorance and/or direction from HQ, Rump has been undercutting American influence and prestige around the globe, perhaps irretrievably. To all but the most ignorant and blind, Putin has his claws into Rump, likely owing to Rump's longtime business dealings with Russian oligarchs =cough= Putin's mafia =cough= and sleazy kompromat. We fully expect Special Counsel Mueller's investigation has explored these criminal enterprises and will expose them, to be followed by unnatural gyrations - but continued loyalty - from Rump's base and sycophants.
BONUS: There's also another piece of evidence of Rump's affinity for Russia (h/t Mock Paper Scissors).
