Trump isn't ruling out inviting Putin to the White House someday

While en route to Paris on Air Force One, President Trump told reporters that he would be open to inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House someday. "I don't think this is the right time, but the answer is yes I would," Trump said.
He admitted that it would be "very easy" to say he "absolutely" would not, but argued that's "the stupid thing to do." "If you don't have dialogue, you have to be fools. Fools," Trump said. "It would be the easiest thing for me to say ... I will never speak to him, and everybody would love me. But I have to do what's right."
During his chat with reporters, Trump also continued to express hesitancy toward blaming Russia for hacking the U.S. presidential election. "I'm not saying it wasn't Russia. What I'm saying is that we have to protect ourselves no matter who it is," Trump said, noting that China and North Korea are also "very good at this."
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.
Trump asked Putin twice during their meeting last week whether Russia meddled in the U.S. election, to which Putin twice insisted that Russia did not interfere. Trump shrugged when reporters asked why he didn't further press Putin on the matter. "What do you do?" Trump said. "End up in a fistfight with somebody?"
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump soaks up adoration in his made-for-TV Cabinet meetings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The president's televised sessions have become a platform for his top lieutenants to demonstrate executive flattery
-
Is hands-off investing the way to go?
The Explainer In many cases, your money might be better off left alone
-
Sloth fever shows no signs of slowing down
The explainer The vector-borne illness is expanding its range
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges
-
Trump expands National Guard role in policing
Speed Read The president wants the Guard to take on a larger role in domestic law enforcement
-
Trump says he's firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Speed Read The move is likely part of Trump's push to get the central bank to cut interest rates
-
Abrego released from jail, faces Uganda deportation
Speed Read The wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego García is expected to be detained at an ICE check-in and deported to Uganda
-
Trump arms National Guard in DC, threatens other cities
speed read His next targets are Chicago, New York and Baltimore
-
Judge: Trump's US attorney in NJ serving unlawfully
Speed Read The appointment of Trump's former personal defense lawyer, Alina Habba, as acting US attorney in New Jersey was ruled 'unlawful'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material