2016 ELECTION/INTELLIGENCE/NATO/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “U.S. President Donald Trump’s week-long adventure on the world stage in Europe came to a raucous conclusion in Helsinki on Monday [7-16-18], with American allies fuming and confused and Russian President Vladimir Putin literally smiling at his good fortune. Trump’s trip to Belgium, Britain and Finland was marked by his frequent taunts and threats aimed at America’s NATO allies, a sharp contrast to his unrestrained bid to curry favor with Russia despite the conclusion by U.S. intelligence agencies that Moscow meddled in the 2016 U.S. election to aid his candidacy. Even for Trump’s high-drama, tweet-driven presidency, this was the most heavily criticized trip abroad of his 18 months in office. The only smooth sections were a tea at Windsor Castle with Queen Elizabeth – although he kept the nonagenarian monarch waiting and walked in front of her – and golfing at his own Turnberry course in Scotland. In Brussels, Trump sowed confusion and chaos, blasting NATO allies for not contributing enough money for their own defense, then praising them for their contributions. He arrived 45 minutes late to the second day of meetings and hijacked the agenda.”
–Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, “After pummeling allies, Trump ends wild Europe trip with Putin embrace,” Reuters, July 16, 2018 1:58 pm