Trump’s Advisers Warned Him in a Written Note, “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” Putin – Trump Did It Anyway

Reality is too stupid for words anymore. I’m running out of things to say in the Trump Era because every day is progressively dumber than the previous one, and frankly, the only cogent analysis remaining can be done by the @infinite_scream Twitter account.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

— endless screaming ? (@infinite_scream) March 21, 2018

Here is the latest saga in the life of president brain worms. Per The Washington Post:

President Trump did not follow specific warnings from his national security advisers Tuesday when he congratulated Russian President Vladi­mir Putin on his reelection — including a section in his briefing materials in all-capital letters stating “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” according to officials familiar with the call.

Trump also chose not to heed talking points from aides instructing him to condemn the recent poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain with a powerful nerve agent, a case that both the British and U.S. governments have blamed on Moscow.

All joking aside, these leaks are harrowing, because they demonstrate an administrative staff terrified of what their boss will do next. Axios‘ Jonathan Swan is one of the most connected journalists out there, and he is reporting an aura of shock and awe in the White House.

Admin officials I’ve spoken to are stunned by this leak. Has rattled senior officials. https://t.co/LEZ38J9LSc

— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) March 21, 2018

Per @kaitlancollins Trump was angrily phoning around last night asking allies who they thought might have leaked the info about his Putin call. The leak reinforced his belief that people in his admin are trying to undermine him.

— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) March 21, 2018

To be fair to Trump (*gag*), this is a pretty stunning leak, and I would think someone was out to get me too. However, the reasons why seem pretty justified, as the former CIA Director shockingly stated on MSNBC.

Ex-CIA Dir. John Brennan: “I think he is afraid of the Russian president. They may have something on him personally… the fact that he has had this fawning attitude toward Mr. Putin… I think continues to say to me that he does have something to fear.” https://t.co/WKf6nwSfXq

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 21, 2018

This goes beyond personal distaste now. Advisers are leaking notes in response to Trump cuddling up to the Russian despot, and former intelligence officers are openly wondering if the American President is beholden to a Russian dictator. As funny as ignoring “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” is, the reason(s) why Trump did it should all give us pause.

Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling.