Trump’s national security advisers warned him not to congratulate Putin. He did it anyway.

The following article by Carol D. Leonnig, David Nakamura and Josh Dawsey was posted on the Washington Post website March 20, 2018:

President Trump also said that he will discuss what he described as an “arms race” with President Putin. (The Washington Post)

President Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers Tuesday when he congratulated Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on his reelection — including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call.

Trump also chose not to heed talking points from aides instructing him to condemn the recent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain with a powerful nerve agent, a case that both the British and U.S. governments have blamed on Moscow. Continue reading “Trump’s national security advisers warned him not to congratulate Putin. He did it anyway.”