One day after the Obama Administration announced sanction in response to the Russian election hacking, Donald Trump took to Twitter to praise Putin.
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Putin announced Friday afternoon that Russia would not be expelling any U.S. diplomats in response to the U.S. order for 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country.
Trump praises Putin
The shocking response from the President-Elect has left many baffled about why the incoming president would break from the current president, Congress and all U.S. intelligence agencies over the Russian hacking scandal.
True to form, Trump praised Putin on his favorite platform, Twitter saying, “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”
Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016
Trump’s praise of Putin comes only one day after President Obama announced that he would sanction Russian intelligence agencies and expel 35 suspected spies that the U.S. thinks were involved in the Russian election hacking. The FBI, CIA as well as all other U.S. intelligence agencies agree that Russia used cyber attacks to try to help get Donald Trump elected president.
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In a statement released by the White House yesterday, President Obama said “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions.”
The 35 operatives who have been ordered to leave the U.S. were posted at Russian diplomatic facilities in Washington and San Francisco. And the sanctions will also prevent two Russian intelligence agencies, three companies and four intelligence officers from traveling into the country or doing business with the United States.
Not the first time Trump praises Putin
Trump has repeatedly praised Vladamir Putin during the campaign and has refused to criticize Putin or the Russian government for its well known human rights abuses, military incursions in Syria and eastern Europe and of course for the hacking and election interference.
Trump has praised Vladamir Putin’s leadership, saying in December, “When people call you ‘brilliant’ it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia. He’s running his country and at least he’s a leader. You know, unlike we have in this country.”
