Criticism piles on for Trump's Russia cybersecurity proposal

President Trump's plan "to move forward in working constructively with Russia" by "forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit" with the Kremlin to secure American elections came under broad criticism Sunday after early slams from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joked in a CBS appearance that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be of "enormous assistance" in improving America's voting cybersecurity "since he is doing the hacking."
Fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara also responded with a joke, sarcastically tweeting that during his time at the Justice Department, "When pursuing a corrupt politician, mobster, or murderer on strong FBI evidence, if he 'vehemently denied it,' we just dropped it usually."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter was more serious, suggesting on CNN that working with Russia on cybersecurity is like "the guy who robbed your house proposing a working group on burglary." And former CIA Director John Brennan appeared on NBC to castigate Trump for saying it was an "honor" to meet Putin in person. "An honor to meet the individual who carried out the assault against our election?" Brennan asked. "To me, it was a dishonorable thing to say."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Bonnie Kristian was a deputy editor and acting editor-in-chief of TheWeek.com. She is a columnist at Christianity Today and author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (forthcoming 2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). Her writing has also appeared at Time Magazine, CNN, USA Today, Newsweek, the Los Angeles Times, and The American Conservative, among other outlets.
-
National parks: Feeling the pain of staff cuts
Feature The Trump administration has fired around 1,000 National Park Service employees
By The Week US Published
-
Measles: Kennedy’s big disease test
Feature Texas reports over 120 measles cases, the highest in 30 years
By The Week US Published
-
CPAC: Scenes from a MAGA zoo
Feature Standing ovations, chainsaws, and salutes
By The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meeting
Speed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrants
speed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cuts
Speed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump sides with Russia on Ukraine war anniversary
Speed Read The president's embrace of the Kremlin is a reversal of American policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump purges Pentagon, puts MAGA pundit at FBI
speed read The president fired top military leaders and appointed podcaster Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk's email to all federal workers prompts blowback
Speed Read Elon Musk ordered workers to summarize their accomplishments for the past week or be forced to resign
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection
Speed Read The longest-serving Senate party leader is retiring
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published