Ignoring an Ongoing Investigation, Putin Invites Trump to Moscow

Because the master does not go to the dog. The dog must go to the master.

As if oblivious to the maelstrom already caused when he rolled over for Russian President Vladimir Putin on the stage in Helsinki, Finland earlier this month, President Trump with stars in his eyes, invited the former KGB agent to come to Washington, D.C., where he would be treated to all the benefits and adoring splendor afforded our nation’s most treasured friends.

Putin said, “Nyet.”

After the refusal, the White House quickly announced that they were taking back that invitation – for now – but it doesn’t really make sense to rescind an invitation after it has already been turned down.

That is the back and forth dance going on between the Trump White House and Moscow, currently.

So here’s the latest pull – Vladimir Putin, while speaking during a visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, has invited President Trump to Moscow, with the qualifier that conditions “need to be right.”

We’re not sure what those conditions might be, but I wouldn’t get too comfortable with it, considering who it is that is making the call on those conditions.

What’s more, Putin is also suggesting that he may be ready to go to Washington, after all.

Addressing the matter, national security adviser John Bolton, once hawkish on Russia, now pimps the Trump White House line:

“The president believes that the next bilateral meeting with President Putin should take place after the Russia witch hunt is over, so we’ve agreed that it will be after the first of the year,” said Mr Trump’s national security adviser in a statement regarding the postponed invitation. “So we’ve agreed that it will be after the first of the year.”

Witch hunt, Mr. Bolton?

You used to be a serious politician.

The White House, however, is perfectly fine with this new development.

“He is open to visiting Moscow upon receiving a formal invitation,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

Sanders added that “Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the year.”

The statement came after Putin claimed he has invited Trump to the Russian capital for a second one-on-one meeting.

Again, with all that has developed, you would think they would at least go through the motions of reining in the enthusiasm over meeting with a hostile foreign nation, that basically attacked our election system just two years ago (and by most accounts, are still actively engaged in those efforts).

President Trump is allowing this to go on, as if onlookers outside of the MAGA bubble don’t see that he is subject to manipulation. If this is a case of those around him telling him he’s ok to continue on in this way, he’s getting really bad advice.

If it’s simply a case of Trump being Trump, ignoring his advisers, polls from Americans who feel he’s handling Putin and Russia badly, as well as the fact that special counsel Robert Mueller is watching every move, then he gets what he deserves.