Trump speaks with members of Congress after Putin meeting — live updates

FAN Editor

Last Updated Jul 17, 2018 2:39 PM EDT

President Trump on Tuesday claimed he has full faith in U.S. intelligence agencies, on the heels of his widely criticized meeting and press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Trump made those comments at the beginning of a meeting with members of Congress, claiming he meant to say in the meeting in Helsinki, Finland, that he had no reason to think it was anyone other than Russia that interfered in the 2016 election. 

Mr. Trump said he has full faith in U.S. intelligence agencies, but emphasized that any actions Russia took had no impact on the presidential election, and diplomacy with Russia is important. The president called his meeting with Putin more successful than his NATO meeting, claiming he and Putin made progress on conflicts. The president emphasized that getting along with Russia is a desirable thing. 

Even many Republicans have criticized Mr. Trump’s performance Monday, when he appeared to side with Putin over his own intelligence agencies on the subject of Russian election meddling. Only a small handful of Republicans, like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, have defended Mr. Trump

But the meeting is officially slated as a discussion on “tax reform 2.0,” as Mr. Trump pushes another GOP attempt to further lower tax burdens. 

The White House meeting was originally closed to the press, but White House press secretary Sarah Sanders later said the first portion of the meeting would be open. Those expected to attend are Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Michigan; Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn.; Rep. George Holding, R-North Carolina; Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio; and Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Illinois.

Mr. Trump, rather than backing down from his comments with Putin, doubled down on them Tuesday. Mr. Trump tweeted that he has “an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia” than he did with NATO.

“While I had a great meeting with NATO, raising vast amounts of money, I had an even better meeting with Vladimir Putin of Russia. Sadly, it is not being reported that way – the Fake News is going Crazy!” the president tweeted Tuesday morning.

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