In the run-up to the Trump-Putin summit, many wondered how the Mueller investigation's latest indictment would impact the outcome. After all, the language of the indictment was very specific and very detailed. Russian intelligence officers were mentioned by name. More to the point, the indictment revealed that Russian hackers were inside the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee for far longer than we knew. They had access to the DNC's analytics, its data on voters and opponents.
In the wake of this indictment, journalists, members of Congress and others demanded that Trump "bring this up" at the summit, that he push back, that he sanction Russia further.
But what if everyone has misunderstood Trump and his intentions? After all, what Mueller has just proved, beyond any doubt, is that the Russian hacking and social media operations on Trump's behalf were far more extensive, and far more important, than we knew. There is no further room to doubt that Vladimir Putin definitely helped him win the election.
From Trump's point of view, the purpose of this summit, therefore, was to thank the Russian president for his assistance.
Listen to the American president's language. There was equivocating: "I think that the United States has been foolish, I think we've all been foolish . . . . We're all to blame." There was denial of any personal or Russian responsibility for election interference: "zero collusion." Trump attacked "Democrats who want to do nothing but resist and obstruct" and the Mueller probe, which he said was ruining the U.S.-Russia relationship.
In front of the world's media, he attacked the FBI, allegedly for not investigating "the server" and "Hillary Clinton's 33,000 emails." By contrast, he flattered Putin, first by staging the event and holding a one-on-one no-advisers-present conversation.
Trump has just composed the most elaborate thank-you note in history.
Editorial on 07/17/2018