Because Russian President Vladimir Putin denied involvement in the 2016 election hacking in the U.S. does not mean Americans believe him, even if U.S. President Donald Trump apparently does believe the former KGB spy. After Putin’s denial, Trump then proposed to create a joint cyber unit to address future election hacking problems.
The backlash against his proposal from Republicans and Liberals was so strong that a day after the real estate billionaire proposed it, Trump backtracked through a tweet, Reuters reported. Unlike Trump who seems to consider Putin his BFF, many American politicians from both parties do not agree with the president’s proposed cyber unit.
The fact that President Putin and I discussed a Cyber Security unit doesn't mean I think it can happen. It can't-but a ceasefire can,& did!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2017
Never a reliable partner or trusted ally
Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio does not buy Putin’s denial of not meddling in the U.S. election. He cited the Russian interference as proof that Putin is neither a trusted ally nor a reliable partner. He compared having Russia as a partner for the cyber unit to being similar to having Assad as a partner for a chemical weapons unit.
Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said at the “Meet the Press” program on NBC it is not the dumbest idea, but it is pretty close.
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter commented to CNN, “This is like the guy who robbed your house proposing a working group on burglary.”
Lindsey Graham is right about how dumb, and naive is Trump's proposal to form a cyber-security unit with Russia. https://t.co/kmJvJapd6z
— Alan Steinberg (@Asteinberg613) July 9, 2017
Republican Arizona Sen.
John McCain, who gave an eye roll, told the CBS program “Face the Nation” that Putin would be of enormous assistance because he authored the hacking. Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasses said the proposed unit should not happen and will not happen. He added the president’s idea is inexplicably bizarre,” Daily Mail reported.
An election clerk in Michigan and a Democrat, Barb Byrum, tweeted her thoughts on Trump’s proposal, The New York Post reported.
No! No! No! As an election official, I ask that you stop this, now.
— BarbByrum (@BarbByrum) July 9, 2017
Moving forward
Trump explained that his proposal to create a cyber unit targets Washington to “move forward in working constructively with Russia,” The New York Daily News reported. He said questions were asked about why the FBI and CIA had to ask the Democratic National Convention 13 times for their server and the party rejected the request. Trump also blamed former President Barack Obama for allegedly not doing anything if he knew of intelligence reports about the Russian hacking.
In the end, Trump apparently acknowledged the bipartisan backlash and conceded it may not happen. Trump, however, brought out another G20 proposal he made that succeeded, the Syrian ceasefire, which was a proposal that did not backfire.
