Yahoo News Donald Trump warns Vladimir Putin will be his 'worst enemy' if relationship fails... as Russian leader gets US invite
Donald Trump has warned that he will make Vladimir Putin the “worst enemy he has ever had” if their relationship breaks down.
But the US leader also said getting along with Russia would be “positive, not negative", as it emerged he asked for Mr Putin to be invited to the Washington.
Mr Trump’s latest comments came during an interview with CNBC on Thursday following the leaders' meeting in Helsinki earlier this week.
“I have been far tougher on Russia than any president in many, many years – maybe ever,” he told the news network.
“Look at the sanctions I put on, look at the diplomats I threw out. Look at all of the things that I’ve done. Nobody else did what I’ve done.”
He added: “Getting along with President Putin, getting along with Russia, is a positive not a negative.
“With that being said, if that doesn’t work out, I’ll be the worst enemy he’s ever had.”
It came as it was revealed Mr Trump asked his national security adviser to invite Mr Putin to Washington for another meeting.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote in a tweet: "President Trump asked John Bolton to invite President Putin to Washington in the fall and those discussions are already under way."
The meeting would presumably take place at the White House, but Ms Sanders did not specify a location.
The Summit with Russia was a great success, except with the real enemy of the people, the Fake News Media. I look forward to our second meeting so that we can start implementing some of the many things discussed, including stopping terrorism, security for Israel, nuclear........
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2018
In a tweet about Putin earlier on Thursday, Mr Trump said: "I look forward to our second meeting."
Mr Trump rejected Mr Putin's proposal that Russian authorities be allowed to question US citizens, the White House said on Thursday.
The offer was made at a summit of the two leaders as Mr Putin suggested he might in return allow access to 12 Russians indicted by the US on charges of meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
"It is a proposal that was made in sincerity by President Putin, but President Trump disagrees with it," Ms Sanders said in a statement on earlier Thursday.
"Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt."
