Trump's top aides — including his national security adviser — keep trying to warn him not to trust Putin

(Image credit: Getty Images)

last updated 20 July 2017

President Trump's national security and foreign policy advisers aren't so keen on his insistence on reaching out to Russia. The Associated Press reported Thursday that there are "deep divisions" within the Trump administration on how best to approach Russia and "mixed signals" between Trump and his advisers.

While Trump has been doubting U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russia meddled in the presidential election, pushing for cooperation with Russia on Syria, and meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin over dinner, AP reported that "some top aides, including National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster, have been warning that Putin is not to be trusted":

McMaster expressed his disapproval of Trump's course to foreign officials during the lead-up to his trip to Germany. The general specifically said he'd disagreed with Trump's decision to hold an Oval Office meeting in May with top Russian diplomats and with the president's general reluctance to speak out against Russian aggression in Europe, according to the three foreign officials.McMaster and other national security aides also advised the president against holding an official bilateral meeting with Putin. [The Associated Press]

Notably, McMaster did not attend Trump's bilateral meeting with Putin at the G-20 summit, though the AP noted that the national security adviser would typically be present at a meeting "with such critical national security operations."