NC Reacts To Trump With Putin: ‘An Embarrassment,’ Says Jones

CHARLOTTE, NC — President Trump’s time on the world stage in Helsinki marked the worst 45 minutes of his time in office by almost any measure and certainly in terms of the amount of criticism it generated even from Congressional members of his own party.

Standing next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a news conference Monday, Trump surprised the world when he sided with Putin over his own director of national intelligence, casting doubt on conclusions by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russian agents attacked the U.S. electoral system in the 2016 elections.

"I have great confidence in my intelligence people," Trump said during the news conference. "But I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."

Most famously, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona — a longtime Trump critic — responded to the president's comments by calling them disgraceful.

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"Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory," McCain said Monday. "The damage inflicted by President Trump's naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake."

North Carolina Rep. Grier Martin, a democrat in the General Assembly, fired off a sharp message to Trump on social media, saying, “Don’t come back. You are not worthy to stand on American soil made free by the sacrifices of men and women better than you.”

And North Carolina Republicans joined in the criticism.

“The ghost of Ronald Reagan must be in shock,” U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, R-NC, said. “The president’s press conference today was an embarrassment. The leader of the free world must strongly stand up to those trying to subvert our democracy. We’re getting weakness instead.”

“Vladimir Putin is not our friend and never has been,” U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC, said. “Nor does he want to be out friend. His regime’s actions prove it.”

“Russian has never been an ally of the United States,” said Republican Rep. George Holding. “And the House Intelligence Committee, as well as Dan Coats, President Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, reported they meddled in the 2016 election. We house hold Russia accountable.”

The White House was in damage-control mode Tuesday. Trump was scheduled to meet with members of Congress.

Intelligence director Dan Coats, who issued a strongly worded statement that Russia did interfere in the election, reaffirmed his commitment to "provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security."

"The role of the Intelligence Community is to provide the best information and fact-based assessments possible for the President and policymakers. We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security," Coats said in the statement.

Patch Editor Todd Richardson contributed.

Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 17: U.S. President Donald Trump talks about his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with House Republicans in the Cabinet Room of the White House on July 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. Following a diplomatic summit in Helsinki, Trump faced harsh criticism after a press conference with Putin where he would not say whether he believed Russia meddled with the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)