Donald Trump condemned for 'shameful' and ' treasonous' show at Putin summit

Donald Trump was denounced as  "shameful" and "disgraceful" by US intelligence officials and senior Republicans on Monday after  he refused to challenge Russian leader Vladimir Putin over interference in American elections.

The US president stunned US political allies and foes alike with his answer to a question about Russian hacking and interference in the 2016 election which saw him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Mr Putin "just said it is not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be," Mr Trump said.

Former US intelligence chiefs expressed outrage at the comments. 

While Newt Gingrich was among notable Trump allies to criticise the president, calling his comments "the most serious mistake" of Mr Trump's presidency - and one that "must be corrected - immediately".

James Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence who served during the Obama administration, called Mr Trump’s acquiescence to Putin "an incredible capitulation," while former CIA chief John Brennan labelled it "nothing short of treasonous".

Republican Senator John McCain said Mr Trump’s seeming acceptance of Mr Putin’s denial was a historical "low point" for the US presidency and the Helsinki summit between the two leaders a "tragic mistake."

"Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naiveté, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate," Mr McCain said in a scathing statement.

"No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant."

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who was appointed by Mr Trump, said US spy agencies have been "clear" and "fact-based" in their assessment that Moscow interfered in the presidential race two years ago – an assessment that Mr Trump refused to endorse in Helsinki.

Mr Coats added that Russia remains behind "ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy."\

Three days ago the US Justice Department indicted 12 Russians for hacking Democratic Party computers, the latest in a series of actions taken by the US government since late 2016 in retribution for what intelligence agencies say was a broad plan to support Mr Trump’s election campaign directed by Mr Putin himself.

Yet Mr Trump appeared to take Mr Putin’s word in dismissing that conclusion.

"I have great confidence in my intelligence people. But I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."

James Comey, the former FBI director who was fired by Mr Trump, said: "This was the day an American president stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country.  Patriots need to stand up and reject the behaviour of this president."

Mr Trump also appeared to embrace Putin’s offer to have Russian investigators work together with US prosecutors on the case of the 12 just indicted.

"I think that’s an incredible offer."

Astonished Republicans and Democrats uniformly condemned Trump, with harsh criticism coming even from hosts on Fox News – a network normally friendly to the president.

"The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally," Paul Ryan, the Republican House Speaker, said.

"There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals," he said.

Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican Senator, said Mr Trump’s answer on meddling "will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness."

Bent on forging a personal bond with the Kremlin chief, Mr Trump headed into the summit blaming the "stupidity" of his predecessors for plunging ties to their present low.

"This is shameful," said Senator Jeff Flake, a fellow Republican and staunch critic of the president.

"I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression."

Mitt Romney, the former Republican presidential nominee who is running for Senate in Utah, said Mr Trump's "decision to side with Putin over American intelligence agencies is disgraceful and detrimental to our democratic principles".

"Russia remains our number one geopolitical adversary; claiming a moral equivalence between the United States and Russia not only defies reason and history, it undermines our national integrity and impairs our global credibility," he added. 

The language used by Democrats was much harsher, including accusations of "treason."

"For the president of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defense officials, and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous, and weak," said Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate.

Democratic California Representative Jimmy Gomez charged: "To side with Putin over U.S. intelligence is disgusting; to fail to defend the U.S. is on the verge of treason."

Congressman Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump had given Putin "a green light to interfere in 2018."

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy was blunter: "This entire trip has just been one giant middle finger from President Trump to his own country. Just jaw dropping," he wrote on Twitter.