kalm wrote:So is the Trump - Putin meeting in private and taking the notes away from the interpreter really that big of a deal? Haven't leaders been meeting "off-record" since Zog met with Thag to steal Zag's wheel idea?
It seems like more tribalism. If Obama had met with the Iranian leader and asked everyone to leave the room, I'm sure there would have been much hand wringing from the right as well.
I think it's pretty interesting within the context of when it occured. Namely, Trump was aware that NYT was about to break the Don Jr Trump Tower meeting story.
July 7 - NYT about to publish Don Jr Trump Tower story, calls WH for comment.
.......... - Trump has 2 1/2 hour conversation with Putin, Lavrov, and Tillerson early in the day.
.......... - Later that evening, he has a second meeting with Putin only attended by their interpreters. He didn't tell any advisors it occured. He confiscated the interpreters' notes afterward.
July 8 - On flight back to US, dictates response to NYT saying the Trump Tower meeting was about "adoptions."
........... - NYT publishes Don Jr story
July 18 - after the 2nd meeting with Putin comes out.... Trump says their conversation was about..... wait for it....... "adoption."
Lol. Pretty weird. And, not normal. Doesn't necessarily mean anything nefarious - but, I hope the interpreter gets a subpoena. Could still be protected by executive privilege, though...