Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2017 20:22:05 GMT -5
www.politico.com/story/2017/08/10/trump-thanks-vladimir-putin-diplomats-241498
A fucking poodle would be a better president, IMO. Apparently many in the state department agree:
President Donald Trump on Thursday thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for expelling American diplomats from Russia on the grounds that “we’re going to save a lot of money,” prompting dismay among many of the rank-and-file at the State Department.
“I want to thank him because we’re trying to cut down our payroll, and as far as I’m concerned I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” Trump told reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, according to a pool report.
“There’s no real reason for them to go back,” he added. “I greatly appreciate the fact that we’ve been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We’re going to save a lot of money.”
“I want to thank him because we’re trying to cut down our payroll, and as far as I’m concerned I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” Trump told reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, according to a pool report.
“There’s no real reason for them to go back,” he added. “I greatly appreciate the fact that we’ve been able to cut our payroll of the United States. We’re going to save a lot of money.”
A senior U.S. diplomat serving overseas called Trump's remarks "outrageous" and said it could lead more State Department staffers to head for the exits.
"This is so incredibly demoralizing and disrespectful to people serving their country in harm's way," the diplomat said.
"I kid you not, I have heard from three different people in the last five minutes," one State Department official told POLITICO shortly after Trump's comments. "Everyone seems pretty amazed. This statement is naive and shortsighted. It sends a terrible signal to local employees everywhere."
"THANK Putin?" another bewildered State Department official responded. "I don't have words that are printable to describe my reaction."
Barbara Stephenson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association, the diplomats' union, also weighed in with a carefully worded statement: "America’s leadership is being challenged by adversaries who would like to see us fail. We cannot let that happen," she said. "With all the threats facing our nation, we need a properly resourced and staffed Foreign Service more than ever, and we need them where they do the most good—posted abroad, delivering for the American people."
The reaction to Trump's comments on social media was withering, with many suggesting he simply didn't understand how the U.S. Foreign Service is structured and others shocked by his gesture to Putin.
Nicholas Burns, who served as undersecretary of state for political affairs during the second Bush administration, called Trump's statement "shameful."
"He justifies mistreatment of U.S. diplomats by Putin," Burns wrote on Twitter.
"This is so incredibly demoralizing and disrespectful to people serving their country in harm's way," the diplomat said.
"I kid you not, I have heard from three different people in the last five minutes," one State Department official told POLITICO shortly after Trump's comments. "Everyone seems pretty amazed. This statement is naive and shortsighted. It sends a terrible signal to local employees everywhere."
"THANK Putin?" another bewildered State Department official responded. "I don't have words that are printable to describe my reaction."
Barbara Stephenson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association, the diplomats' union, also weighed in with a carefully worded statement: "America’s leadership is being challenged by adversaries who would like to see us fail. We cannot let that happen," she said. "With all the threats facing our nation, we need a properly resourced and staffed Foreign Service more than ever, and we need them where they do the most good—posted abroad, delivering for the American people."
The reaction to Trump's comments on social media was withering, with many suggesting he simply didn't understand how the U.S. Foreign Service is structured and others shocked by his gesture to Putin.
Nicholas Burns, who served as undersecretary of state for political affairs during the second Bush administration, called Trump's statement "shameful."
"He justifies mistreatment of U.S. diplomats by Putin," Burns wrote on Twitter.
