Trump let Putin off, say spooks
TWO top former US intelligence chiefs have blasted Donald Trump’s failure to condemn Russia for meddling in the 2016 election. After meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Vietnam, President Trump signalled he accepted the Russian leader’s long-standing denials that Moscow orchestrated cyber attacks on the 2016 US elections. “He’s giving Putin a pass,” former CIA director John Brennan told CNN’s State of the Union. “And I think it demonstrates to Mr Putin that Donald Trump (pictured) can be played by foreign leaders who are going to appeal to his ego and to try to play upon his insecurities.” Former director of national intelligence James Clapper said world leaders knew how to work Mr Trump: flatter him with red carpets, honour guards and the “trappings” of pomp and circumstance.