You're reading: RFE/RL: Trump view of Putin as ‘competitor, not enemy’ provokes ire in Congress

RFE/RL: Trump view of Putin as ‘competitor, not enemy’ provokes ire in Congress

Published July 13, 2018 at 10:43 am

Beer bottles with labels depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and US President Donald Trump and bearing the slogan "Let's Settle this like adults" by Finnish craft brewery "Rock, Paper, Scissors" are pictured in a supermarket in Helsinki, on July 11, 2018. The Finnish brewery created the beer for the upcoming Helsinki summit on July 16, 2018 where Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet.

Photo by AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Russia is a “competitor,” not an “enemy” has provoked alarm and outrage among some prominent lawmakers in Washington.

Several lawmakers said on July 12 that they were concerned about Trump’s willingness to overlook alleged wrongdoing by Russia and warned Trump not to go “soft” on Russian President Vladimir Putin at a scheduled summit in Helsinki, Finland, on July 16.