Trump’s Russia Remarks: Putin Himself in a Corner

THE ISSUE: President Trump’s comments in Helsinki about Russian meddling in the 2016 US elections.

Even before his statements in Helsinki, President Trump undermined his intelligence chief, Dan Coats, who stated clearly that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. “I don’t know if I agree with that. I’d have to look,” Trump said Saturday (“Whoopski,” July 18).

Now Trump is altering what he said in Helsinki in hopes that it is all soon forgotten.

This is the same man who beats up on his friends and allies as soft targets and cowers every time he faces his No. 1 adversary, Vladimir Putin.

Americans need to say, “Enough is enough” and take back our country from the man who is threatening our very existence. Matthew Fleisig Huntington

Unfortunately, Trump’s biggest enemies are the news media and the US intelligence elites, who have done more to undermine American democracy than any Russian hackers. Kristin Bianco Upper Brookville

Russia is an enemy of the United States and attacked us, which is an act of war. You either believe our own intelligence agencies or you don’t. I choose to believe them. Trump refused to condemn Russia for its interference in our election.

He has chosen to align himself with the president of Russia against our own intelligence agencies and against the security interests of the United States. Stephen McDavid Ocean Springs, Miss.

The purpose of the meeting between Trump and Putin was to be civil, candid, friendly and keep the door open.

Putin summed it up in his interview with Chris Wallace — neither side went there to be insulted.

The critics on both sides of the aisle are just plain stupid or did not want to admit Trump was successful. Hooray for Trump. He accomplished just what he wanted. We do not need a Cold War. Rochelle Dowling Garden City

Trump’s shameless kowtowing to Putin, disparagement of our European Union and NATO allies and dismissal of reliable intelligence reports on Russian interference in American elections make a mockery of his brash pronouncements of “America First.”

Under his chaotic leadership, Trump is only driving a great nation toward being last. Malcolm J. Odell Jr. Washington, DC

For the past two years, Democrats have used the term “Russian meddling” as synonymous with “collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign,” and as shorthand for “Trump won the election by cheating, and Hillary lost unfairly.”

Asking Trump to acknowledge Russian meddling is like asking him to admit that he won unfairly.

He can’t, won’t and shouldn’t be manipulated in that direction — agreeing to the illegitimacy of his presidency. This is a lose-lose trap for him. B.Gonen Wynnwood

Trump is a good president, but he’s also an egomaniac. If he would think before he spoke, he’d gain more respect. That Russia meeting was embarrassing. Matt Engel Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Trump is absolutely correct in questioning the veracity of intelligence agencies. I wouldn’t trust those swamp creatures for a minute. Frank Asprea Brooklyn

In spite of all the hysteria from the usual suspects about Trump’s stance on Russia, Jonathan Tobin’s piece about the durability of Trump’s support hits the nail on the head (“All in the Fam,” PostOpinon, July 17).

The wailing chorus on the left has long been deemed irrelevant by the great majority of Trump supporters — otherwise, he never would’ve been elected.

These critics have little to no credibility because of their endless, shrill attacks on the president. John Jaffe Orefeild, Pa.

The United States and Russia have the biggest nuclear arsenals on earth.

Trump is correct to try to keep good relations with Putin — unlike American hotheads — despite genuine grievances. Rod Matthews Melbourne, Australia