Trump: Envoy limit will save US money

BEDMINISTER, N. J. » President Donald Trump on Thursday brushed off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to expel hundreds of U. S. diplomatic employees from Russia, instead thanking Putin and insisting it would save the U.S. significant cash.

In remarks at his golf course in New Jersey, Trump dismissed Putin’s move, saying he “greatly’ appreciated Putin’s help cutting down the payroll at the U.S. State Department.

“I want to thank him because we’re trying to cut down on payroll,” Trump said. “As far as I am concerned, I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll. There’s no real reason for them to go back. So, I greatly appreciate the fact that they’ve been able to cut our payroll for the United States. We’ll save a lot of money.”

It was unclear whether the president was joking at all in his remarks, which were made following a security briefing held during an extended working vacation at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, golf course.

Putin said last month the U.S. would have to cut 755 of its embassy and consular staff in Russia — a long-expected response to President Barack Obama’s order to expel 35 Russian diplomats and shut down two Russian recreational retreats in the U. S. Obama took action after allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump’s comments were a shock to State Department officials, said officials who described the reaction on condition of anonymity to avoid potential repercussions for reporting criticism of the president. Some in the department were dismayed to hear the president suggest, even sarcastically, that American diplomats were a waste of money and unneeded in large numbers in a major world power like Russia, the officials said.

There was no official State Department reaction.