Trump/Putin Meetup: Hultgren, GOP Members Slam Press Conference

HELSINKI, FINLAND — President Donald's Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin — followed by a joint press conference in Helsinki, Finland — drew fire from Democratic lawmakers around the country. But GOP members — including some right here in Chicagoland — also voiced criticism of the show of unity between Trump and Putin amid continued investigation into allegations of Russian election interference.

Trump, though he did say he has "great confidence" in U.S. intelligence, said he held both countries responsible for alleged election interference. Asked if he held Russia accountable, the president replied, "I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. ... And I think we're all to blame."

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Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-14th District) took to Twitter Monday afternoon after Trump sided with Putin on the issue of election cyberattacks despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

"As our intelligence agencies have stated, there is no doubt as to Russian involvement during the last presidential election," Hultgreen tweeted, echoing a similar statement made by House Speaker Paul Ryan. "This foreign infringement is an affront and all necessary steps to secure future elections are crucial," Hultgren said.

Hultgren's district represents all or parts of Batavia, Geneva, Campton Hills, Oswego, Naperville, Yorkville, Plano, Huntley, Woodstock, McHenry, Sycamore, Lindenhurst and Antioch.

Another area Republican, Rep. Peter Roskam, who represents the Illinois 6th Congressional district including Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Lisle, northeastern Naperville, Barrington and Palatine, also spoke out, calling Puting "a brutal dictator" and calling the joint press conference "an affront to American democracy and the Intelligence Community and a victory for Russian propaganda."

"The President has a responsibility to not only confront Vladimir Putin for attacking our democracy, but to use all tools available to prevent future acts of aggression that could undermine the cornerstone of our republic — free and fair elections," Roskam said in a series of tweets. "Vladimir Putin is not our ally – he is a brutal dictator who has undermined our democratic institutions ... We must maintain a united front with our partners around the world to confront Russian aggression."

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon), who in 2017 said he declined a meeting with a Russian ambassador — "I don't meet with regimes that murder people," he told CNN — defended the U.S. intelligence community and replied directly to Trump on Twitter, telling him to "retract" the press conference.

"The American people deserve the truth, & to disregard the legitimacy of our intelligence officials is a disservice to the men & women who serve this country," Kinzinger said in another tweet. "It’s time to wake up & face reality. #Putin is not our friend; he’s an enemy to our freedom."

Photo of Hultgren by Kris Connor/Getty Images for Dunkin' Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation