President Donald Trump had been planning to meet with Vladimir Putin this week at the G20 Summit in Argentina, but he abruptly canceled on Thursday after departing for Buenos Aires. In a two-part tweet, Trump named the reason for the cancellation due to the Russian capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews near Crimea on Sunday, claiming that he “decided it would be best for all parties” and that he looked forward “to a meaningful Summit” when the situation is resolved.
Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2018
….in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2018
Earlier this week Trump told the Washington Post that he would determine what would happen at the meeting with Putin, and if said meeting would even take place. “Maybe I won’t even have the meeting. We’re going to see,” the president explained, given the circumstances. “But depending on what comes out tonight, we should have a pretty good indication on exactly what happened tonight at about 6 o’clock.”
That was on Tuesday, and as of Thursday morning, both the White House and Kremlin were still planning on going ahead with that meeting. So what changed?
Ah, yes. That would be the breaking news that Trump’s former personal attorney and “fixer” Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court to making false statements to Congress in regards to his Russian contacts during the presidential campaign. This involved plans to build a Trump property in Moscow.
This could be the most damning thing to come to light over the course of Special Council Robert Mueller’s so-called “witch hunt,” but Trump seems adamant the two things are unrelated.
The rest of the world, however, is not quite as sure — as many, particularly those covering the story in the media, are connecting the very obvious dots.
Less than an hour before this tweet…Trump: “I probably will be meeting with President Putin. We haven’t terminated that meeting. I was thinking about it. But we haven’t. They’d like to have it. I think it is a very good time to have a meeting.” https://t.co/tslTmAm8wQ
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) November 29, 2018
This guilty plea by Michael Cohen continues to confirm the following fact:
MOST SUCCESSFUL WITCH HUNT IN US HISTORY
Oh, and didn't @realDonaldTrump keep telling the American people that he had no business with Russia? https://t.co/ShxyvG37Hp
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) November 29, 2018
By a show of hands, how many people believe the reason for this cancellation has to do with Russian aggression against Ukraine rather than Cohen's breaking admissions that Trump and Putin's circles discussed Moscow real estate deal far longer than previously admitted? pic.twitter.com/Jw65YeIkuU
— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) November 29, 2018
Did Trump cancel his meeting with Putin because of Russian attack on Ukraine or Cohen revelations?
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) November 29, 2018
THURSDAY 11/29/2018
3 AM EST
Trump's lender, Deutsche Bank, raided9:45 AM EST
Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, guilty of lying about Trump’s Russia deals10:45 AM EST
Trump calls Michael Cohen "a weak person"11:34 AM EST
Trump cancels meeting with Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) November 29, 2018
Something is up because Trump just canceled his meet w Putin which was all planned out by the Kremlin. Location and time set.. Trump cited Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine but he doesn’t care and that was one of the main reasons along w sanctions for Russia installing him https://t.co/lXTJ3BtMyt
— Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 (@OlgaNYC1211) November 29, 2018
About an hour ago, Trump had said it’s a “good time” to meet Putin. https://t.co/CzxgYyJGKO
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 29, 2018
Today your lawyer pleaded guilty to lying about an act of collusion: on your behalf he privately interacted with Putin's office seeking help in advancing a big deal you were secretly pursuing in Russia while campaigning for president. I guess witches are real. https://t.co/mYIUuTbfRu
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 29, 2018
White House tells reporters on Air Force One that @realDonaldTrump made the decision to cancel his summit with Russia's Putin on the plane after speaking with @SecPompeo, General Kelly and @AmbJohnBolton
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) November 29, 2018
It seems from Michael Cohen's plea that Putin's office did in fact respond to Cohen in January 2016 when he reached out about the Trump Tower Moscow project. Cohen had said he never heard back. The Kremlin said it had never responded. pic.twitter.com/uRg9RYim9O
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1068194027995127809
Of course, not everyone in convinced, including Lindsey Graham:
President @realDonaldTrump’s decision to cancel a planned meeting with Russian President Putin was a show of strength and resolve that will be beneficial over time.
It sends a signal to Putin that his outrages against international norms will have consequences. https://t.co/a7ooaa5TZF
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 29, 2018