2018 Russia–United States summit

File:Vladimir Putin and John R. Bolton (2018-06-27) 06.jpg, Moscow, on June 27, 2018, to discuss the summit]]

Helsinki previously served as the location for the signing of the Helsinki Accords in 1975, following a series of meetings intended to reduce tensions between the Western and Soviet blocs during the Cold War.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/01/us/putin-trump-western-alliance-cnntv/index.html|title=Trump-Putin summit makes US a 'less reliable' partner to its Western allies, former UK official says|last=King|first=Alexandra|date=2018-07-01|access-date=2018-07-02|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701224220/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/01/us/putin-trump-western-alliance-cnntv/index.html|archive-date=2018-07-01|url-status=live}} The U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton met with Putin on 27 June to discuss the details of the summit and other bilateral issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/27/john-bolton-vladimir-putin-moscow-visit-us-russia|title=Trump and Putin to reveal details of first official summit|last1=Roth|first1=Andrew|date=27 June 2018|website=The Guardian|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627142849/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/27/john-bolton-vladimir-putin-moscow-visit-us-russia|archive-date=27 June 2018|url-status=live}} On 28 June, the location of the summit was announced by the White House and the Kremlin to be Helsinki.{{cite news|url=https://time.com/5324850/putin-trump-summit-date-location/|title=What We Know About Trump's Summit With Putin (So Far)|last1=Jenkins|first1=Nash|date=28 June 2018|magazine=Time|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806141030/http://time.com/5324850/putin-trump-summit-date-location/|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Präsidentenpalast Helsinki.jpg in Helsinki, the venue of the summit]]

The summit was officially called the #HELSINKI2018 Meeting by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was hosted by the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.{{Cite web|url=https://um.fi/helsinki2018|title=#HELSINKI2018 - Ministry for Foreign Affairs|website=um.fi|access-date=2018-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710075902/https://um.fi/helsinki2018|archive-date=2018-07-10|url-status=live}} The summit took place in the Presidential Palace and marked the first official meeting between the leaders after previous unofficial talks between Trump and Putin at the G20 Hamburg and APEC Vietnam summits held in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000005736123.html|title=Trump ja Putin kohtaavat Helsingissä 16. heinäkuuta, Trump tahtoo tavata Sauli Niinistön kahden kesken – Tämä kaikki huippukokouksesta tiedetään|trans-title=Trump and Putin will meet in Helsinki on 16 July, Trump wants to meet with Sauli Niinistö privately – All this is known about the summit|date=28 June 2018|work=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi|access-date=9 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129074252/https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000005736123.html|archive-date=29 November 2019|url-status=live}} Topics Trump announced to be discussed at the summit included the situations in Syria and Ukraine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/28/summit-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-held-helsinki/|title=Summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to be held in Helsinki on July 16|last=Riley-Smith|first=Ben|date=2018-06-28|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-06-29|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628200109/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/28/summit-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-held-helsinki/|archive-date=2018-06-28|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/fox_news_trump_and_putin_to_meet_at_helsinki_summit/10278005|title=Fox News: Trump and Putin to meet at Helsinki summit|date=2018-06-28|work=Yle Uutiset|access-date=2018-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629102251/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/fox_news_trump_and_putin_to_meet_at_helsinki_summit/10278005|archive-date=2018-06-29|url-status=live}} The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met his Russian and Finnish counterparts Sergey Lavrov and Timo Soini.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/396754-pompeo-to-meet-with-russian-finnish-foreign-ministers-in-helsinki/|title=Pompeo to meet with Russian, Finnish foreign ministers in Helsinki|last=Samuels|first=Brett|date=July 12, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718204917/http://thehill.com/policy/international/396754-pompeo-to-meet-with-russian-finnish-foreign-ministers-in-helsinki|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}

Niinistö held bilateral meetings with both presidents on the day of the summit. That morning, Niinistö and Finnish First Lady Jenni Haukio welcomed Trump and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump at their main official residence in Mäntyniemi. During the presidents' meeting, the two women met for a joint breakfast.{{cite news |title=The Latest: Trump tweets US, Russia 'must get along' |url=https://www.apnews.com/afd7db4f7c024a678c696da68edd15ce/The-Latest:-Putin-arrives-in-Helsinki-late-for-Trump-meeting |access-date=18 July 2018 |work=AP News |date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718174758/https://www.apnews.com/afd7db4f7c024a678c696da68edd15ce/The-Latest:-Putin-arrives-in-Helsinki-late-for-Trump-meeting |archive-date=18 July 2018 |url-status=live }}

The meeting began at the Presidential Palace after midday (at approximately 1 pm) with Niinistö officially welcoming Putin, followed by Trump. The bilateral discussions between the American and Russian presidents took place in the Presidential Palace's Gothic Hall; Trump and Putin met with only interpreters present.{{cite news|author= Ericson, Amanda|newspaper= The Washington Post|title= Trump can't beat Putin at his own game|date= July 16, 2018 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/16/trump-cant-beat-putin-at-his-own-game/?noredirect=on|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044922/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/07/16/trump-cant-beat-putin-at-his-own-game/?noredirect=on |archive-date=2019-03-06|access-date = 16 July 2018}} Their meeting was followed by a working lunch including additional officials in the Hall of Mirrors.{{Cite web|url=http://www.president.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=376905&nodeid=44807&culture=en-US|title=American and Russian presidents to meet at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki - The President of the Republic of Finland|website=president.fi|access-date=2018-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724035850/http://www.president.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=376905&nodeid=44807&culture=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-24|url-status=live}}

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said they welcomed Trump's planned meeting with Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |title=The Latest: Gorbachev has high hopes for Putin-Trump summit |url=https://apnews.com/a8cad273fde84304a2aa31c6cd5cf7a6 |work=AP News |date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717154114/https://apnews.com/a8cad273fde84304a2aa31c6cd5cf7a6 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}

On 13 July, three days before the summit, Rod Rosenstein, the United States Deputy Attorney General, announced indictments of 12 Russian GRU officers for their efforts in the 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak, through the establishment of false identities as DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0, as well as charges of money laundering using bitcoin. The timing of these indictments led to closer scrutiny of the upcoming meeting and pressure for Trump to discuss election meddling with Putin.reuters.com (13 July 2018): [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-analysis/indictment-of-russian-officers-puts-pressure-on-trump-at-putin-summit-idUSKBN1K4023 Indictment of Russian officers puts pressure on Trump at Putin summit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803032507/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-analysis/indictment-of-russian-officers-puts-pressure-on-trump-at-putin-summit-idUSKBN1K4023 |date=2018-08-03 }} Bloomberg News reported the day after the summit that Trump permitted the indictments to be announced prior to the summit hoping it would strengthen his position in negotiations with Putin.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-17/trump-said-to-decide-russia-indictments-should-come-pre-summit|title=Trump Decided Russia Indictments Should Come Pre-Summit, Sources Say|website=Bloomberg News|date=17 July 2018 |access-date=July 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721015532/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-17/trump-said-to-decide-russia-indictments-should-come-pre-summit|archive-date=July 21, 2018|url-status=live}}

Two days before the scheduled meeting, a group of top Senate Democrats urged Trump to not meet with Putin one-on-one. Signers of a letter advising him not to meet alone with Putin included Minority Leader Charles Schumer, Minority Whip Dick Durbin, and the top Democrats on the Senate Intelligence (Mark Warner), Foreign Relations (Bob Menendez), Judiciary (Dianne Feinstein), Armed Services (Jack Reed), Appropriations (Patrick Leahy), and Banking (Sherrod Brown) committees.{{cite web |work = www.warner.senate.gov |date= 14 July 2018|url = https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/7/top-senators-tell-trump-do-not-meet-putin-alone |title=Do not meet Putin alone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715095410/https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2018/7/top-senators-tell-trump-do-not-meet-putin-alone |archive-date=2018-07-15 }}{{cite news|work=thehill.com |date=14 July 2018|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/397013-senate-dems-tell-trump-dont-meet-with-putin-one-on-one/ |title=Senate Dems tell Trump: Don't meet with Putin one-on-one|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821173711/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/397013-senate-dems-tell-trump-dont-meet-with-putin-one-on-one |archive-date=2018-08-21 }}

During an interview on the eve of the summit with CBS News, Trump was asked who America's biggest foe is. He said Russia is "a foe in certain aspects" and called the European Union the biggest trade foe of the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/15/world/europe/trump-putin-summit-meeting.html|title=Trump, on Eve of Putin Meeting, Calls E.U. a Trade 'Foe'=|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 15 July 2018|access-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716143912/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/15/world/europe/trump-putin-summit-meeting.html|archive-date=16 July 2018|url-status=live|last1 = Davis|first1 = Julie Hirschfeld|last2 = Rogers|first2 = Katie}} Trump tweeted on the morning of the summit that the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has "never been worse".{{Cite tweet |number=1018738368753078273 |user=realDonaldTrump |title=Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt! |author=Donald Trump |author-link=Donald Trump |date=July 15, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180717005935/https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1018738368753078273 |archive-date=July 17, 2018 |url-status=live}} He blamed this on "foolishness and stupidity" on the part of the U.S., and referenced the ongoing Special Counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections, calling it a "witch hunt". The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs retweeted Trump's message, adding "We agree".{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1018803468805566464|title=MFA Russia 🇷🇺 on Twitter|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724215510/https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1018803468805566464|archive-date=24 July 2018|url-status=live}} Trump also indicated his inclination to accept Putin's denial of Russian interference, saying "President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44852812|title=Trump sides with Russia against FBI|date=16 July 2018|access-date=17 July 2018|publisher=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716234749/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44852812|archive-date=16 July 2018|url-status=live}}

According to the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, more than 10 demonstrations were planned for the summit.{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/number_of_protests_for_trump-putin_helsinki_summit_rises_to_10/10301976|title=Number of protests for Trump-Putin Helsinki summit rises to 10|date=12 July 2018|website=Yle News|access-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129020849/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/number_of_protests_for_trump-putin_helsinki_summit_rises_to_10/10301976|archive-date=29 November 2019|url-status=live}} On Sunday 15 July, about 2,500 protesters gathered for the "Helsinki Calling" pro-human rights demonstration at the Helsinki Senate Square.{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/watch_demonstrators_rally_ahead_of_trumps_arrival_in_finland/10305436|title=Watch: Demonstrators rally ahead of Trump's arrival in Finland|date=15 July 2018|website=Yle News|access-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129032811/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/watch_demonstrators_rally_ahead_of_trumps_arrival_in_finland/10305436|archive-date=29 November 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-summit-protests/finns-rally-against-trump-putin-ahead-of-helsinki-summit-idUSKBN1K50P8|title=Finns rally against Trump, Putin ahead of Helsinki summit|date=15 July 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020154052/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-summit-protests/finns-rally-against-trump-putin-ahead-of-helsinki-summit-idUSKBN1K50P8|archive-date=20 October 2019|url-status=live}} Simultaneously, the youth section of the nationalist Finns Party staged a pro-Trump rally. The "Welcome Trump" event gathered a crowd of 50 people including Finns Party youth and Soldiers of Odin members.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/kourallinen-perussuomalaisia-nuoria-seka-soldiers-of-odinin-jasenia-toivotti-trumpin-ilolla-tervetulleeksi/6994126#gs.lGPVUcw|title=Isänmaalliset nuoret Trumpin puolesta – kourallinen PS-nuoria sekä Soldiers of Odinin jäseniä toivotti Trumpin ilolla tervetulleeksi|last1=Auramies, Jukka|date=15 July 2018|website=MTV3|language=fi|access-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817162054/https://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/kourallinen-perussuomalaisia-nuoria-seka-soldiers-of-odinin-jasenia-toivotti-trumpin-ilolla-tervetulleeksi/6994126#gs.lGPVUcw|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}

More demonstrations were planned for Monday 16 July, including the "Stop Putin" and "Helsinki against Trump and Putin" rallies and protests for women's rights, Afghanistan and against Russophobia. The youth section of the right-wing National Coalition Party said they would hold a demonstration against President Trump's trade policy and Russia's annexation of Crimea.

On the day of the summit, large crowds gathered in Helsinki city center to see the heads of states proceeding to and out of the presidential palace in their vehicles.

File:Vladimir Putin & Donald Trump in Helsinki, 16 July 2018 (4).jpg

{{div col}}

• {{flagicon|USA}} President of the United States, Donald Trump
• {{flagicon|USA}} Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo
• {{flagicon|USA}} National Security Advisor, John Bolton
• {{flagicon|USA}} White House Chief of Staff, John F. Kelly
• {{flagicon|USA}} United States Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr.
• {{flagicon|USA}} White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders
• {{flagicon|USA}} White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Zachary Fuentes
• {{flagicon|USA}} Advisor to the President, Fiona Hill

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• {{flagicon|RUS}} President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Sergey Lavrov
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Foreign Affairs Assistant to the President, Yuri Ushakov{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629411046/trump-putin-meet-for-two-hours-in-helsinki |title=Trump, Putin Meet For 2 Hours In Helsinki |last=Horsley |first=Dan |date=2018-07-16 |publisher=NPR |access-date=2018-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717153817/https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629411046/trump-putin-meet-for-two-hours-in-helsinki |archive-date=2018-07-17 |url-status=live }}
• {{flagicon|RUS}} Kremlin Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov

{{div col end}}

Trump and Putin met privately without aides or note-takers, accompanied only by a single Russian-provided interpreter. There were no U.S. personnel in attendance at the meeting. The meeting had been scheduled for 90 minutes but lasted two hours.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44842732|title=Trump-Putin summit: US leader hails 'good start' in Helsinki|date=July 16, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718002252/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44842732|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} The private meeting was followed by a working lunch that included senior advisors.

No agenda was published for their discussion, and no communique was issued afterward. Some issues were touched on at the press conference. In the following days Russia issued multiple statements about what it said were agreements made at the summit, "shaping a narrative of the meeting with no confirmation or alternative account from the Trump administration."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russia-continues-to-shape-narrative-of-helsinki-summit/2018/07/20/3ea54a98-8c40-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html|title=Russia continues to shape narrative of Helsinki summi|last=DeYoung|first=Karen|date=July 20, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721011741/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russia-continues-to-shape-narrative-of-helsinki-summit/2018/07/20/3ea54a98-8c40-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=live}}

In the press conference immediately following the meeting, both leaders described some of their positions. On the question of the Syrian civil war, Trump wanted Iranian troops to leave Syria, while Putin would not commit to their departure. Both agreed that Iranian troops should be kept away from the Israel-Syria border, with Trump noting that "Creating safety for Israel is something both Putin and I would like to see very much." Trump said he is willing to help Syria with humanitarian aid, even if there is no wider peace settlement.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/17/helsinki-summit-what-did-trump-and-putin-agree|title=Helsinki summit: what did Trump and Putin agree?|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=July 17, 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722011428/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/17/helsinki-summit-what-did-trump-and-putin-agree|archive-date=22 July 2018|url-status=live}}

That may contradict the earlier Trump administration position that it will not provide reconstruction assistance to any part of Syria that remains under the control of Bashar al-Assad, whom Russia backs. The Russian ambassador to the U.S. later said that Syria had been the major topic of discussion, along with "the removal of the concerns that the United States has regarding the well-known claims about alleged interference in the elections". Four days after the meeting, a Russian military spokesman said Russia has sent formal proposals for a joint U.S.-Russian effort to reconstruct Syria and facilitate the return home of Syrian refugees.

In a Fox News interview the next day, Putin indicated that the two had agreed to disagree about Crimea. Putin said he wanted acceptance of the disputed 2014 referendum in which Crimeans voted to become part of Russia, and insisted that Ukraine must never become part of NATO. He said they had agreed to hold talks on extension of the START treaty, which expires in 2021, but he wants to see evidence that the U.S. has lived up to the terms of the treaty. He also wants to negotiate on the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Treaty.

The day after the meeting, a Russian military spokesman said that Russia is "ready for practical implementation of the agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in the sphere of international security achieved at the Helsinki summit." His statement said the agreements include cooperation in Syria and discussions about extending the START Treaty.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/trump-putin-russia-claim-military-agreements/index.html|title=US offers no details as Russia claims Trump and Putin reached military agreements|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|last2=Phillip|first2=Abby|date=July 18, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718033935/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/trump-putin-russia-claim-military-agreements/index.html|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} No agreements were announced at the summit, and White House and Pentagon spokesmen said they were not aware of any new agreements.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-one-can-explain-what-trumps-russia-summit-means-not-even-the-us-government/2018/07/17/25d60f1a-89e4-11e8-8aea-86e88ae760d8_story.html?noredirect=on|title=No one can explain what Trump's Russia summit means, not even the U.S. government|last1=Ryan|first1=Missy|last2=Morello|first2=Carol|date=July 17, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030502/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/no-one-can-explain-what-trumps-russia-summit-means-not-even-the-us-government/2018/07/17/25d60f1a-89e4-11e8-8aea-86e88ae760d8_story.html?noredirect=on|archive-date=30 November 2018|url-status=live}}

A spokesman for the National Security Council said "As President Trump stated, the two sides agreed that their national security council staffs will follow up on the presidents' meetings, and these discussions are underway. There were no commitments to undertake any concrete action, beyond agreement that both sides should continue discussions." The spokesman said they are also reviewing suggestions by Putin for a "cyber-group" and an anti-terrorism group.

At a press conference four days after the summit, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats stated, "I'm not in a position to either understand fully or talk about what happened in Helsinki," and ceded the podium to national security advisor John Bolton, who explained that the issue of election interference was discussed.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/intelligence/400123-intel-chief-im-not-in-a-position-to-understand-fully/|title=Intel chief: I'm not in a position to 'understand fully' what happened at Trump-Putin meeting|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=August 2, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=January 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114100510/https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/intelligence/400123-intel-chief-im-not-in-a-position-to-understand-fully|archive-date=January 14, 2019|url-status=live}} Despite this, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer remarked, "It is utterly amazing, utterly amazing, that no one knows what was said."{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/689fd324316343d5bbf5c94ed15db3d5|title=What did Trump and Putin talk about? Only they know|last=Lee|first=Matthew|date=July 20, 2018|work=AP News|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723034305/https://apnews.com/689fd324316343d5bbf5c94ed15db3d5|archive-date=23 July 2018|url-status=live}} Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Bill Pascrell called for Trump's interpreter, Marina Gross, to testify before Congress, while House Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff called for her to testify to the Committee in closed session.{{Cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-putin-summit-interpreter-marina-gross-2018-7 |title=2 top Democrats want Congress to interview the interpreter who was in the room with Trump and Putin |last=Smith |first=Allan |date=2018-07-17 |website=Business Insider |access-date=2018-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718002852/http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-putin-summit-interpreter-marina-gross-2018-7 |archive-date=2018-07-18 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/19/helsinki-summit-democrats-want-hear-trumps-interpreter/799733002/ |title=Trump's interpreter: Should she be compelled to tell what she heard during private meeting with Putin? |author=Michael Collins |date=July 19, 2018 |website=USAToday.com |access-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720014100/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/19/helsinki-summit-democrats-want-hear-trumps-interpreter/799733002/ |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1020020019714035713|title=Adam Schiff on Twitter|website=Twitter|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721123213/https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1020020019714035713|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=live}}

File:President Trump Holds a Joint Press Conference with the President of the Russian Federation.webm

File:Press-konferentsiia po itogam peregovorov prezidento-HD.webm

After the private meeting and the working lunch, Trump and Putin gave a joint press conference. When Trump was asked whether he would condemn Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, he demurred, saying that Putin had denied it.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629462401/transcript-president-trump-and-russian-president-putins-joint-press-conference|title=Transcript:Trump And Putin's Joint Press Conference|website=NPR|date=16 July 2018|access-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110053101/https://www.npr.org/2018/07/16/629462401/transcript-president-trump-and-russian-president-putins-joint-press-conference|archive-date=10 November 2019|url-status=live}}

JONATHAN LEMIRE, ASSOCIATED PRESS: President Trump, you first. Just now, President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. Every U.S. intelligence agency has concluded that Russia did. My first question for you sir is, who do you believe? My second question is would you now, with the whole world watching, tell President Putin, would you denounce what happened in 2016 and would you want him to never do it again?

TRUMP: So let me just say that we have two thoughts. You have groups that are wondering why the FBI never took the server. Why haven't they taken the server? Why was the FBI told to leave the office of the Democratic National Committee?

I've been wondering that. I've been asking that for months and months and I've been tweeting it out and calling it out on social media. Where is the server? I want to know where is the server and what is the server saying?

With that being said, all I can do is ask the question.

My people came to me, Dan Coats, came to me and some others they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia.

I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. But I really do want to see the server but I have, I have confidence in both parties.

[...]

I have great confidence in my intelligence people but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today and what he did is an incredible offer.

He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators, with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer. Ok? Thank you.

During the press conference, Jeff Mason from Reuters asked whether Putin had wanted Donald Trump to win the 2016 presidential election and had he directed any of his officials to help him do that? Putin replied: "Yes, I did. Because he talked about bringing the US-Russia relationship back to normal." This contradicted a tweet sent by Trump in which he claimed: "I'm very concerned that Russia will be fighting very hard to have an impact on the upcoming Election. Based on the fact that no President has been tougher on Russia than me, they will be pushing very hard for the Democrats. They definitely don't want Trump!" All reference to that exchange between Mason and the Russian leader was omitted from the official White House transcript.{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/trump-putin-press-conference-transcript/565385/|title=The White House Transcript Is Missing the Most Explosive Part of the Trump–Putin Press Conference|last=Friedman|first=Uri|date=July 17, 2018|work=The Atlantic|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718000505/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/trump-putin-press-conference-transcript/565385/|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44959300|title=From 'alternative facts' to rewriting history|last=Sopel|first=Jon|date=2018-07-25|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-07-26|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726012522/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44959300|archive-date=2018-07-26|url-status=live}}

Asked whether Russia possessed any compromising material on Trump, Putin laughed and talked about the number of businessmen who visit Russia, but did not give a direct answer. Trump commented that if any such material existed "it would have been out long ago".{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/kompromat-russia-trump/index.html|title=Does Russia have Kompromat on Trump? Here's Putin's strange answer|last=Wolf|first=Z. Byron|date=July 16, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717212312/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/kompromat-russia-trump/index.html|archive-date=17 July 2018|url-status=live}}

The hours immediately following the summit drew bipartisan criticism in the United States. Criticism focused on Trump's perceived acceptance of Putin's denial of involvement in Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, which contradicted the findings of the United States Intelligence Community, and stood in pointed contrast to the indictment of twelve Russian GRU agents just three days earlier in the ongoing Special Counsel investigation: U.S. media reaction was almost universally negative, even from many commentators on Fox News who usually supported the president.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-allies-abandoning-him-after-putin-press-conference-2018-7|title=Trump's staunchest media allies are facing their biggest test yet — and some of them are finally abandoning him|last=Relman|first=Eliza|date=July 18, 2018|work=Business Insider|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718145942/http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-allies-abandoning-him-after-putin-press-conference-2018-7|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} International news coverage of the summit was mostly negative in Europe, triumphant in Russia, and muted in China.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/international-%20reaction-trump-putin-meeting-mixed-n891936|title=International reaction to Trump-Putin meeting is mixed|last=Smith|first=Alexander|date=July 17, 2018|work=NBC News|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806141030/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/international-%20reaction-trump-putin-meeting-mixed-n891936|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}

Democrats universally condemned Trump's performance. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi called it a "sad day for America."{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-putin-meeting-us-russia-helsinki-finland-summit-live-updates-today-2018-07-16/|title=Trump defends Putin from claims of election interference|date=July 16, 2018|work=CBS News|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718231120/https://www.cbsnews.com/live-news/trump-putin-meeting-us-russia-helsinki-finland-summit-live-updates-today-2018-07-16/|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} Senate Democrats led by Jeanne Shaheen called for American interpreter Marina Gross, who sat in on the private meeting with Putin, to be questioned before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Shaheen added, if the administration is to exert executive privilege, "we need to find another way to get the information."{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-democrats-question-trumps-interpreter-putin-summit/story?id=56668320|title=Senate Democrats want to question Trump's interpreter at Putin summit|last=Khan|first=Mariam|date=July 18, 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173703/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-democrats-question-trumps-interpreter-putin-summit/story?id=56668320|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}} Senator Chuck Schumer said "We need hearings as soon as possible", with testimony from members of Trump's national security team present during the Helsinki summit, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo."{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/chuck-schumer-hearing-russia-news-conference/index.html|title=Schumer demands hearings 'immediately' with Trump officials -- including Pompeo|last=Treyz|first=Catherine|date=July 17, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719231350/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/chuck-schumer-hearing-russia-news-conference/index.html|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}}Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Nicholas Fandos and Thomas Kaplan, New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/16/us/politics/republicans-trump-putin.html Republicans Rebuke Trump for Siding With Putin as Democrats Demand Action] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722075021/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/16/us/politics/republicans-trump-putin.html |date=2018-07-22 }}, July 16, 2018.

NBC News reported that "key senators were preparing to grill" Pompeo "on Russia and North Korea" when he briefs them and that "tempers flared" during a 18 July 2018 Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing at which this was discussed. New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated "If the administration is unwilling to consult with this committee in a meaningful fashion on vital national security issues, then we must consider all appropriate responses." Republican committee chairman Bob Corker stated, "On challenging what happened at NATO, what happened at Helsinki, I will take a backseat to no one in this body," after previously stating that "the dam has broken."{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/frustrated-senators-want-answers-trump-s-foreign-meetings-n892621 |title=Frustrated senators want answers on Trump's foreign meetings; Key senators are preparing to grill Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Russia and North Korea when he briefs them next week. |author=Heidi Przybyla |date=July 18, 2018 |website=NBC News |access-date=12 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801230416/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/frustrated-senators-want-answers-trump-s-foreign-meetings-n892621 |archive-date=1 August 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/us/politics/trump-critics-treason-putin.html|title=For Republicans, 'The Dam Has Broken.' But for How Long?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 July 2018|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723185415/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/us/politics/trump-critics-treason-putin.html|archive-date=23 July 2018|url-status=live|last1=Baker|first1=Peter}}

Many Republicans in Congress strongly criticized Trump as well. Senator Bob Corker claimed Trump "made us look like a pushover", Senator Ben Sasse called Trump's remarks "bizarre and flat-out wrong", while Senator Tim Scott wondered if "today was a step backwards".{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/congress-reaction-trump-putin-comments/index.html|title=Top Republicans in Congress break with Trump over Putin comments|last=Fox|first=Lauren|date=July 16, 2018|publisher=CNN|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718002930/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/congress-reaction-trump-putin-comments/index.html|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} Others including Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell reaffirmed support for the U.S. intelligence community without directly condemning Trump. Newt Gingrich, a longtime Trump supporter, said Trump's statements about the U.S. intelligence community were "the most serious mistake of his presidency and must be corrected — immediately".{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/397303-gingrich-putin-press-conference-was-most-serious-mistake-of/|title=Gingrich: Putin press conference was 'most serious mistake' of Trump's presidency|last=Greenwood|first=Max|date=July 16, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718055059/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/397303-gingrich-putin-press-conference-was-most-serious-mistake-of|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}

Senator John McCain and former Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican nominees for president in 2008 and 2012, respectively, both strongly criticized Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MittRomney/status/1018971562098200576|title=My statement on today's summit in Helsinki|access-date=2018-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106173226/https://twitter.com/MittRomney/status/1018971562098200576|archive-date=2018-11-06|url-status=live}} Romney said Trump's siding with Putin rather than U.S. intelligence agencies was "disgraceful and detrimental to our democratic principles", while McCain called the summit "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory."{{Cite web|author=Sarah Hallam|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/john-mccain-statement-trump-putin-summit/index.html|title=John McCain: Trump gave 'one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory'|publisher=CNN|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614094242/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/john-mccain-statement-trump-putin-summit/index.html|archive-date=June 14, 2019|url-status=live}}

Republican Senator Rand Paul was the lone voice in the Senate to support Trump in the matter,{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-thanks-lone-republican-support-putin-summit-135905006.html|title=Trump thanks lone Republican for support on Putin summit|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719025452/https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-thanks-lone-republican-support-putin-summit-135905006.html|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}} saying that Trump should be "lauded and not belittled" for being "willing to meet with adversaries to try to prevent us from having World War III".{{cite news |last1=Tillett |first1=Emily |title=Rand Paul defends Trump: Meeting with adversaries should be "lauded and not belittled." |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-rand-paul-says-trump-meeting-with-adversaries-should-be-lauded-and-not-belittled/ |access-date=18 July 2018 |work=CBS News |date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717235803/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sen-rand-paul-says-trump-meeting-with-adversaries-should-be-lauded-and-not-belittled/ |archive-date=17 July 2018 |url-status=live }} A few Republican members of the House of Representatives also made supportive comments.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/summit-blowback-gop-candidates-stick-trump-russia/story?id=56695818|title=Despite summit blowback, many GOP candidates stick by Trump on Russia|last=Verhovek|first=John|date=July 19, 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721115817/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/summit-blowback-gop-candidates-stick-trump-russia/story?id=56695818|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=live}}

Shortly after the summit concluded, CNN reported that Trump's "stunned aides wonder what went wrong" and "openly admitted they don't know how to respond to questions," quoting one official involved with the summit as saying "this was not the plan."{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/donald-trump-helsinki-how-bad-was-that/index.html|title='How bad was that?': Even Trump aides question damage done|author1=Kevin Liptak|author2=Jeff Zeleny|author3=Kaitlan Collins|publisher=CNN|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719102154/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/donald-trump-helsinki-how-bad-was-that/index.html|archive-date=July 19, 2018|url-status=live}} The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal later reported that there was extensive planning before the summit to confront Putin, with one official saying the plan was for Trump to "shove [the Mueller indictments of 12 Russians] in Putin's face and look strong doing it" during both the private meeting and public press conference, but that Trump "did the exact opposite."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/very-much-counter-to-the-plan-trump-defies-advisers-in-embrace-of-putin/2018/07/16/b2176bfe-8921-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html|title='Very much counter to the plan': Trump defies advisers in embrace of Putin|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717215941/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/very-much-counter-to-the-plan-trump-defies-advisers-in-embrace-of-putin/2018/07/16/b2176bfe-8921-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html|archive-date=17 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-digs-in-against-criticism-on-multiple-fronts-1532129844|title=Trump Digs In Against Criticism on Multiple Fronts|first1=Rebecca|last1=Ballhaus|first2=Peter|last2=Nicholas|date=21 July 2018|access-date=21 July 2018|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721014115/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-digs-in-against-criticism-on-multiple-fronts-1532129844|archive-date=21 July 2018|url-status=live}}

The New York Times, Time magazine, and The New Yorker magazine mocked Trump and the summit. The New York Times' online opinion page displayed homoerotic imagery of Trump and Putin in an animated cartoon by Bill Plympton.Alexander Kacala, NBC News, [https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/new-york-times-trump-putin-cartoon-criticized-homophobic-n891811 New York Times' Trump-Putin cartoon criticized as 'homophobic'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717205649/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/new-york-times-trump-putin-cartoon-criticized-homophobic-n891811 |date=2018-07-17 }}, July 16, 2018. A morphed image of a Trump-Putin hybrid was published on the Time magazine cover.TIME, [https://time.com/5342562/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-summit-crisis-cover/ The Story Behind TIME's Trump and Putin 'Summit Crisis' Cover], July 19, 2018. The New Yorker magazine cover art displayed a parody of Trump's 15 June 15, 2015 golden escalator announcement of his candidacy,Susan Page, USA Today, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/06/16/donald-trump-announcement-president/28782433/ This time, Donald Trump says he's running] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721195259/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/06/16/donald-trump-announcement-president/28782433/ |date=2018-07-21 }}, June 16, 2015. showing a dead and flattened Trump laid out face down, but giving the "thumbs-up" at the bottom of the escalator.{{Cite magazine |last=Mouly |first=Françoise |date=2018-07-19 |title=Barry Blitt's "Thumbs-Up" |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2018-07-30 |access-date=2023-06-22 |issn=0028-792X}}Lou Dobbs Tonight | Fox News, report broadcast on July 20, 2018

Television commentators presented criticism of Trump and the summit.{{cite news|work= Fox News | title =as seen on The Five, Just 'Tuesday on Cable News': Gutfeld on Carter Official Comparing Trump-Putin Summit to Kristallnacht, 9/11|url= http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/07/17/gutfeld-monologue-media-ripping-trump-putin-summit-helsinki|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724112422/http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/07/17/gutfeld-monologue-media-ripping-trump-putin-summit-helsinki |archive-date=2018-07-24 |date=July 17, 2018}} David Gergen, an advisor to four presidents including Ronald Reagan, stated "I've never heard an American president talk that way, but I think it's especially true that when he's with someone like Putin — who is a thug, a world-class thug — that he sides with him again and again against his own country's interests."{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/397220-media-slams-trump-over-performance-at-putin-press-conference/|title=CNN, NBC, Fox personalities slam Trump over performance at Putin press conference|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=16 July 2018|access-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032130/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/397220-media-slams-trump-over-performance-at-putin-press-conference|archive-date=24 July 2018|url-status=live}} Fox & Friends, a morning program which Trump is known to regularly watch, was critical of Trump's performance, with co-host Brian Kilmeade speaking directly to the president, "I will say this to the president: when Newt Gingrich, when General Jack Keane, when Matt Schlapp say the president fell short and made our intelligence apparatus look bad, I think it's time to pay attention."{{cite web|url=https://video.foxnews.com/v/5810259373001/?#sp=show-clips|title='Fox & Friends' on Trump falling short at Putin summit|date=17 July 2018|website=Fox News|access-date=23 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032217/https://video.foxnews.com/v/5810259373001/#sp=show-clips|archive-date=24 July 2018|url-status=live}}

On MSNBC, Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks said that the Russian meddling attempts were as serious to her "as the Cuban Missile Crisis...or the 9/11 attack" and further stated that the summit will "live in infamy as much as" the Attack on Pearl Harbor or Kristallnacht. Former national security advisor Susan Rice stated that the US-Russia summit was a bad mistake, citing many reasons, and that any future meeting would be premature.ABC News | ABC News This Week with George Stephanopoulos, broadcast Sunday July 22, 2018 9:00 - 10:00 AM EDT https://abcnews.go.com/thisweek {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724223416/https://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek |date=2018-07-24 }}

Glenn Greenwald, one of the founding editors of The Intercept, said that "90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons are in the hands of two countries—the United States and Russia—and having them speak and get along is much better than having them isolate one another and increase the risk of not just intentional conflict, but misperception and miscommunication, as well."{{cite news |title=Debate: Is Trump-Putin Summit a "Danger to America" or Crucial Diplomacy Between Nuclear Powers? |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2018/7/16/debate_is_trump_putin_summit_a_danger |work=Democracy Now! |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819093030/https://www.democracynow.org/2018/7/16/debate_is_trump_putin_summit_a_danger |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |url-status=live }}

The Steele dossier alleges that the Russians possess kompromat on Trump which can be used to blackmail him, and that the Kremlin promised him that the kompromat will not be used as long as he continues his cooperation with them.{{cite web | last1=Withnall | first1=Adam | last2=Sengupta | first2=Kim | title=The 10 key Donald Trump allegations from the classified Russia memos | website=The Independent | date=January 12, 2017 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-russia-10-allegations-dossier-kremlin-michael-cohen-sex-claims-intelligence-reports-a7522056.html | access-date=December 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194355/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-russia-10-allegations-dossier-kremlin-michael-cohen-sex-claims-intelligence-reports-a7522056.html | archive-date=January 1, 2018 | url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|date=January 10, 2017|title=Report: Trump briefed on unverified claims that Russian operatives have compromising information on him|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russians-say-they-have-compromising-information-on-trump-2017-1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211546/http://www.businessinsider.com/russians-say-they-have-compromising-information-on-trump-2017-1|archive-date=February 26, 2018|access-date=February 26, 2018|website=Business Insider}} Trump's actions at the Helsinki summit in 2018 "led many to conclude that Steele's report was more accurate than not.... Trump sided with the Russians over the U.S. intelligence community's assessment that Moscow had waged an all-out attack on the 2016 election,... The joint news conference,.. cemented fears among some that Trump was in Putin's pocket and prompted bipartisan backlash."{{cite web|last=Bertrand|first=Natasha|author-link=Natasha Bertrand|date=September 30, 2019|title=The Russia Hawk in the White House|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/30/fiona-hill-russia-trump-adviser-228758/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209194336/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/30/fiona-hill-russia-trump-adviser-228758|archive-date=February 9, 2021|access-date=November 11, 2019|website=Politico}}

At the joint news conference, when asked directly about the subject, Putin denied that he had any kompromat on Trump. Even though Trump was reportedly given a "gift from Putin" the weekend of the pageant, Putin argued "that he did not even know Trump was in Russia for the Miss Universe pageant in 2013 when, according to the Steele dossier, video of Trump was secretly recorded to blackmail him."{{cite web | last=Mackey | first=Robert | title=Trump and Putin Met in Helsinki's Hall of Mirrors. Here Are the Highlights. | website=The Intercept | date=July 16, 2018 | url=https://theintercept.com/2018/07/16/live-trump-and-putin-meet-in-helsinkis-hall-of-mirrors/ | access-date=November 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111072354/https://theintercept.com/2018/07/16/live-trump-and-putin-meet-in-helsinkis-hall-of-mirrors/ | archive-date=November 11, 2019 | url-status=live }}

In reaction to Trump's actions at the summit, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke in the Senate:

{{blockquote|Millions of Americans will continue to wonder if the only possible explanation for this dangerous and inexplicable behavior is the possibility — the very real possibility — that President Putin holds damaging information over President Trump.{{cite news | last=Blake | first=Aaron | title=The growing Trump-Putin kompromat question | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 17, 2018 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/07/17/does-putin-have-kompromat-on-trump-suddenly-its-no-longer-such-a-taboo-question-thanks-to-trump/ | access-date=November 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111072357/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/07/17/does-putin-have-kompromat-on-trump-suddenly-its-no-longer-such-a-taboo-question-thanks-to-trump/ | archive-date=November 11, 2019 | url-status=live }}}} {{clear}}

Several operatives, and lawyers in the U.S. intelligence community reacted strongly to Trump's performance at the summit. They described it as "subservien[ce] to Putin" and a "fervent defense of Russia's military and cyber aggression around the world, and its violation of international law in Ukraine" which they saw as "harmful to US interests". They also suggested that he was either a "Russian asset" or a "useful idiot" for Putin,{{cite web | last=Sheth | first=Sonam | title=US spies say Trump's G7 performance suggests he's either a 'Russian asset' or a 'useful idiot' for Putin | website=Business Insider | date=August 30, 2019 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/spies-react-trump-g7-summit-russian-asset-2019-8 | access-date=November 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103123605/https://www.businessinsider.com/spies-react-trump-g7-summit-russian-asset-2019-8 | archive-date=November 3, 2019 | url-status=live }} and that he looked like "Putin's puppet".{{cite web | last=Sheth | first=Sonam | title=Russia came out the winner of this year's G7 summit, and Trump looked like 'Putin's puppet' | website=Business Insider | date=August 27, 2019 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-was-the-winner-g7-trump-crimea-2019-8 | access-date=November 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029020839/https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-was-the-winner-g7-trump-crimea-2019-8 | archive-date=October 29, 2019 | url-status=live }}

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper wondered "if Russians have something on Trump",{{cite web | title=Clapper: I wonder if Russians have something on Trump | website=CNN | date=July 19, 2018 | url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/07/19/james-clapper-trump-helsinki-behavior-putin-bpr-vpx.cnn | access-date=November 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020022118/https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/07/19/james-clapper-trump-helsinki-behavior-putin-bpr-vpx.cnn | archive-date=October 20, 2019 | url-status=live }} and former CIA director John O. Brennan, who has accused Trump of "treason", tweeted: "He is wholly in the pocket of Putin."{{cite web | last1=Sevastopulo | first1=Demetri | last2=Hille | first2=Kathrin | title=Trump-Putin: Will Helsinki prove a turning point for the Republicans? | website=Financial Times | date=July 20, 2018 | url=https://www.ft.com/content/19415d54-8c05-11e8-b18d-0181731a0340 | access-date=November 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112171348/https://www.ft.com/content/19415d54-8c05-11e8-b18d-0181731a0340 | archive-date=November 12, 2019 | url-status=live }} Former acting CIA director Michael Morell has called Trump "an unwitting agent of the Russian federation", and former CIA director Michael V. Hayden said Trump was a "useful fool" who is "manipulated by Moscow".{{cite news | last=Boot | first=Max | title=Here are 18 reasons Trump could be a Russian asset | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=January 13, 2019 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/here-are-18-reasons-why-trump-could-be-a-russian-asset/2019/01/13/45b1b250-174f-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html | access-date=November 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031142916/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/here-are-18-reasons-why-trump-could-be-a-russian-asset/2019/01/13/45b1b250-174f-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html | archive-date=October 31, 2019 | url-status=live }}

In 2019, The Washington Post reported that Trump had later attempted to conceal details of his discussions with Putin, in one instance taking possession of his interpreter's translation notes.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Greg |title=Trump has concealed details of his face-to-face encounters with Putin from senior officials in administration |newspaper=Washington Post |date=13 January 2019}} Trump denied concealing anything in an interview on Fox News.{{cite news |last1=Cummings |first1=Williams |title=President Trump went to 'extraordinary lengths' to hide details of Putin meetings, report says |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/13/trump-putin-meetings-interpreter-notes/2565471002/ |access-date=28 May 2022 |publisher=USA Today}}

File:President Trump Meets with Members of Congress.webm

The next day, Trump, reading from a prepared statement, claimed that he had mistakenly used the word "would" when he had meant to say "wouldn't", acknowledging Russian attempts at meddling in the 2016 election but denying Trump-Russia collusion.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397481-trump-says-he-accepts-us-intel-on-russia-then-adds-it-could-be-other/|title=Trump says he accepts US intel on Russia — then adds it 'could be other people also'|first=Ian|last=Swanson|date=17 July 2018|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718021334/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397481-trump-says-he-accepts-us-intel-on-russia-then-adds-it-could-be-other|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} Trump paused reading his prepared statement to interject that the interference "Could be other people also. A lot of people out there."{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397481-trump-says-he-accepts-us-intel-on-russia-then-adds-it-could-be-other/|title=Trump says he accepts US intel on Russia — then adds it 'could be other people also'|first=Ian|last=Swanson|date=17 July 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718021334/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397481-trump-says-he-accepts-us-intel-on-russia-then-adds-it-could-be-other|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/world/europe/trump-putin-summit.html|title=A Besieged Trump Says He Misspoke on Russian Election Meddling|newspaper=The New York Times|date=17 July 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022221/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/17/world/europe/trump-putin-summit.html|archive-date=20 July 2018|url-status=live|last1=Landler|first1=Mark|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie}} In the past, Trump had questioned many times if Russia was responsible, and on several previous occasions when he did say Russia was responsible, he also said that other countries might also have meddled.{{cite news |last1=Bump |first1=Philip |title=Actually, Trump has almost never blamed Russia exclusively for 2016 interference |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/07/19/heres-everything-trump-has-said-about-russian-interference-in-2016/?noredirect=on |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219043941/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/07/19/heres-everything-trump-has-said-about-russian-interference-in-2016/?noredirect=on |archive-date=19 December 2018 |url-status=live }}

The American intelligence community has consistently concluded that Russia was responsible for the hacking,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/politics/taking-aim-at-trump-leaders-strongly-affirm-findings-on-russian-hacking.html|title=Countering Trump, Bipartisan Voices Strongly Affirm Findings on Russian Hacking|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 January 2017|access-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627142200/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/politics/taking-aim-at-trump-leaders-strongly-affirm-findings-on-russian-hacking.html|archive-date=2018-06-27|url-status=live|last1=Flegenheimer|first1=Matt|last2=Shane|first2=Scott}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/world/europe/trump-intelligence-russian-election-meddling-.html|title=From the Start, Trump Has Muddied a Clear Message: Putin Interfered|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 July 2018|access-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805210601/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/world/europe/trump-intelligence-russian-election-meddling-.html|archive-date=2018-08-05|url-status=live|last1=Sanger|first1=David E.|last2=Rosenberg|first2=Matthew}} with three intelligence agencies having "high confidence" that Russian interference was ordered by Putin himself.{{cite news |title=What Intelligence Agencies Concluded About the Russian Attack on the U.S. Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/russian-hack-report.html |website=The New York Times |date=7 January 2017 |access-date=22 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703105913/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/us/politics/russian-hack-report.html |archive-date=3 July 2018 |url-status=live |last1=Shane |first1=Scott }} Trump then suggested on Twitter that his critics would rather go to war with Russia than see him get along with Putin.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David |title=Summit critics have Trump derangement syndrome – says Trump |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/18/summit-critics-trump-derangement-syndrome-putin |website=The Guardian |access-date=19 July 2018 |language=en |date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718141622/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/18/summit-critics-trump-derangement-syndrome-putin |archive-date=18 July 2018 |url-status=live }}

During an interview three days after the summit, Trump told CBS News that he holds the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, personally responsible for Russia's attempts at meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.{{cite news|agency=Reuters/CBS|work=The Guardian|url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2018/jul/19/trump-says-he-holds-putin-responsible-for-us-election-meddling-video |title= Trump says he holds Putin responsible for US election meddling – video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143850/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2018/jul/19/trump-says-he-holds-putin-responsible-for-us-election-meddling-video |archive-date=2018-08-05|date= July 19, 2018}}

Trump asked his national security adviser, John R. Bolton, to invite Mr. Putin to Washington, to continue dialogue that began in Helsinki. In a tweet, Trump indicated he looked forward to a second meeting with Mr. Putin "so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed" in Helsinki.Mark Landler, 'New York Times,' [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/us/politics/trump-putin-browder-mcfaul.html Trump to Invite Putin to Washington, Blindsiding His Intelligence Chief] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805210934/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/19/us/politics/trump-putin-browder-mcfaul.html |date=2018-08-05 }}, July 19, 2018.

Survey results published by Levada-Center indicate that, as of July 2018, Russians increasingly viewed the United States positively following the presidential summit.{{cite news |title=Anti-Americanism Wanes in Russia After Putin-Trump Summit, Survey Says |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/anti-americanism-wanes-russia-after-putin-trump-summit-survey-says-62425 |work=The Moscow Times |date=August 2, 2018 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110013950/https://themoscowtimes.com/news/anti-americanism-wanes-russia-after-putin-trump-summit-survey-says-62425 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |url-status=live }}

During his joint press conference with Putin, Trump stated, "And what [Putin] did is an incredible offer; he offered to have the people working on the [Special Counsel investigation] come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 [Russians who were under indictment in America]. I think that's an incredible offer."{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/trump-putin-news-conference-transcript/index.html|title=READ: The full Trump-Putin news conference transcript|website=CNN|date=17 July 2018|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718195423/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/trump-putin-news-conference-transcript/index.html|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}} Trump did not mention the quid pro quo for Putin's offer, which was to have Russians interrogate 11 U.S. citizens.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397701-white-house-trump-open-to-russia-questioning-us-citizens/|title=White House: Trump open to Russia questioning US citizens|first=Jacqueline|last=Thomsen|date=18 July 2018|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718214013/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397701-white-house-trump-open-to-russia-questioning-us-citizens|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}Nauert, Heather (July 18, 2018). [https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2018/07/284175.htm "Department Press Briefing - July 18, 2018"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730080418/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2018/07/284175.htm |date=July 30, 2018 }}. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 29, 2018.

Two days later, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed that Putin and Trump had discussed the possibility of Russian officials questioning Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, as well as Putin critic Bill Browder and others, in exchange for allowing investigators of the Special Counsel investigation to question twelve Russians who are under indictment in America. Sanders stated in a press conference, "The president will work with his team and we'll let you know if there's an announcement on that front." State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called the Russian request "absolutely absurd."

Critics assailed Trump for even considering subjecting a former American diplomat to questioning by a hostile foreign power.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/19/trump-putin-conversation-about-russian-interrogation-of-u-s-diplomat-prompts-outrage-astonishment/|title=Outrage erupts over Trump-Putin 'conversation' about letting Russia interrogate ex-U.S. diplomat Michael McFaul|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719124317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/07/19/trump-putin-conversation-about-russian-interrogation-of-u-s-diplomat-prompts-outrage-astonishment/|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}} As the Republican-controlled Senate prepared to vote on a resolution opposing the Putin proposal,{{cite web|author=Collins, Eliza|url=https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1019997424339836929|title=Untitled|publisher=Twitter|date=July 19, 2018|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806141030/https://twitter.com/elizacollins1/status/1019997424339836929|archive-date=6 August 2018|url-status=live}}{{better source needed|date=August 2019}}Ries, Brian; Wagner, Meg; Rocha, Veronica (July 19, 2018). [https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-today-07-19-18/h_3761f1662b0836600ef8a508fa63f563 "Senate votes 98-0 to reject Putin's proposal to interrogate US officials despite Trump reversal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730050654/https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-today-07-19-18/h_3761f1662b0836600ef8a508fa63f563 |date=2018-07-30 }}. CNN. Retrieved July 29, 2018.Abramson, Alana (July 19, 2018). [https://time.com/5343322/michael-mcfaul-senate-questioning/ "Senate Unanimously Rejects Idea of Allowing Russia to Question U.S. Diplomats"] . Time. Retrieved July 29, 2018. Sanders stated that Trump "disagrees" with the Putin proposal.Liptak, Kevin; Cohen, Marshall (July 19, 2018). [https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-proposal-us-russia-probe/index.html "White House now says Trump 'disagrees' with Putin suggestion to interrogate Americans"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730050424/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-proposal-us-russia-probe/index.html |date=2018-07-30 }}. CNN. The Senate approved the non-binding "sense of the Senate" resolution, which stated that no current or former diplomat or other government employee should be made available to the Russians for interrogation, on a 98–0 vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/senate-votes-republicans-russia/index.html|title=Senate votes 98-0 to reject Putin proposal to send ex-US ambassador back to Russia|date=July 19, 2018|work=CNN|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719201446/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/19/politics/senate-votes-republicans-russia/index.html|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Vladimir Putin arrives in Helsinki, 16 July 2018 (2).jpg|Vladimir Putin arrives in Finland

File:Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump & Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki, 16 July 2018.jpg|Joint photo session (left to right): First Lady of the US Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump, President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö and First Lady of Finland Jenni Haukio

File:Vladimir Putin & Donald Trump in Helsinki, 16 July 2018 (10).jpg|Putin gifts Trump a Telstar Mechta, the official match ball for the knockout stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup

File:Sauli Niinistö & Donald Trump in Helsinki, 16 July 2018 (42547211825).jpg|President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with President Sauli Niinistö and First Lady of Finland Jenni Haukio at the Mäntyniemi Residence

File:Helsinki-summit-2018-ad.jpg|Advertisement in downtown Helsinki, with a message aimed at President Putin, in light of perceived lack of press freedom in Russia

File:Helsinki Putin Trump meeting Amnesty.jpg|link=|Advertisement by Amnesty International in downtown Helsinki

File:President Trump Welcome Posters in Helsinki, Finland (28561910947).jpg|Trump and Putin's welcoming posters were visible in the street scene

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{{reflist}}

• {{cite journal |first=Michael |last=Kimmage |title=The Surprising Promise of the Trump-Putin Summit |journal=Foreign Affairs |date=July 11, 2018 |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/2018-07-11/surprising-promise-trump-putin-summit }}

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{{wikisource|Remarks by President Trump and President Putin of the Russian Federation in Joint Press Conference}}

• {{Official website|https://um.fi/helsinki2018}} (Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland)
• (News analysis) : {{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/14/us/politics/trump-russia-putin.html?&hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news |title=Trump Opens His Arms to Russia. His Administration Closes Its Fist| work=The New York Times | date=14 July 2018 | last1=Landler | first1=Mark | last2=Davis | first2=Julie Hirschfeld }}
• {{cite web|url = https://factba.se/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-vladimir-putin-helsinki-july-16-2018 |title = Full English transcript and video clips of joint press conference of Trump and Putin |work= Factbase| date = 16 July 2018}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Russia-United States summit, 2018}}

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