Indiana Senators Lament Trump Meeting With Putin

Democrat Joe Donnelly and Republic Todd Young don't agree with Trump's statements at a meeting with the Russian president.

Indiana U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (left) and Todd Young.

(Washington) - Indiana’s two U.S. senators are both critical of President Donald Trump’s meeting and press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin

During a Monday news conference with Putin in Helsinki, Trump seemed to cast more doubt on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.  

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been critical of Trump’s statements. Indiana Republican U.S. Senator Todd Young was among them.

“Moscow invades and bullies its neighbors, disregards its treaty obligations, seeks to divide NATO, and props up the murderous Assad regime,” Young said. “To protect America’s national security interests, stand up for democratic values, and deter additional aggression by Putin, we must deal with Moscow from a position of strength and unity. I have no reason to doubt the clear conclusions of the intelligence community when it comes to Moscow’s attempts to undermine our democracy. When it comes to defending our democratic institutions against foreign subversion and meddling, we are Americans—not Republicans or Democrats.”

My statement on the President’s meeting with Putin: pic.twitter.com/ECjAZe6W9d

— Senator Todd Young (@SenToddYoung) July 16, 2018

Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly had last week called on the president to cancel the meeting. The Senate Armed Services Committee member said Trump did not stand up for America’s security interests, emboldened Putin, and disregarded a consensus conclusion of the American intelligence community, including Director of National Intelligence and Hoosier Dan Coats.

“This meeting was a setback for American national security. We must not tolerate efforts by Russia or other actors that disrupt our democracy or undermine our interests around the globe,” Donnelly said.

READ: Joe’s statement after President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki today. pic.twitter.com/sX3qEICs5u

— Senator Joe Donnelly (@SenDonnelly) July 16, 2018

The president, however, tweeted that the U.S. cannot only focus on the past. He argued that the U.S. and Russia are the world's two largest nuclear powers and must get along. 

A productive dialogue is not only good for the United States and good for Russia, but it is good for the world. #HELSINKI2018 pic.twitter.com/Q2Y1PhM9au

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018