Trump told Putin not to meddle in the 2020 election. It looked like an inside joke.


Before departing for the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, reporters asked President Trump what he would discuss with Russian Preisdent Vlaidimir Putin in their one-on-one meeting, specifically if he would tell him not to interfere in the upcoming U.S. election, as he did to help Trump in 2016, according to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report. "What I say to him is none of your business," Trump said.
Trump was a little more forthcoming when he sat next to Putin in Osaka on Friday. He said he and Putin have a "very, very good relationship," and "many positive things are going to come out of the relationship." The two leaders "have many things to discuss, including trade and some disarmament, some little protectionism, in a very positive way," he added. And when a reporter asked, again, if Trump would warn Putin not to meddle in the 2020 election, Trump laughed. "Yes, of course I will," he said, turning to Putin with a smile. "Don't meddle in the election, president. Don't meddle in the election."
Chris Cuomo taken aback by Trump appearing to share a joke with Putin about Russian election interference. "Look, fact is stranger than fiction these days," he said on CNN. Election security is "clearly not a subject that the president of the United States takes seriously," added CNN's Jim Sciutto. "So here he sits next to the Russian president and makes a joke about Russian interference in the election. I think it's a remarkable moment." You can watch a more in-depth discussion of that moment below. Peter Weber
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies