President Donald Trump deadpanned that he is “very thankful” for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to kick out hundreds of US diplomatic staffers from Russia. Trump’s quip that the US would “save a lot of money” wasn’t met with much laughter, though.
“I want to thank [Putin], because we’re trying to cut down our payroll,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey on Thursday, “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.”
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“There’s no real reason for them to go back,” Trump continued. “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.”
Trump had been asked to respond to Putin’s sign-off on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s July 28 anouncement that Washington, DC must reduce the number of its diplomatic staff in Russia to 455 people, down from about 1,200. That move was in retaliation for the latest US sanctions that were devised as a punishment for alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. Trump reluctantly signed them into law late last month.
Reuters reported that the Russian order to downsize the US diplomatic staff was softened in part, as it allowed the US to choose which individual members to cut, many of whom are Russian citizens.
The US State Department responded to Moscow’s move last month, saying that it was an “uncalled-for act.”
Trump’s line on Thursday stated quite the opposite, but the tone suggested sarcasm, which is not uncharacteristic of the president.
On Twitter, however, his comments were widely taken literally.
Extremely lame weak excuse for ducking a stand up 2 Putin for Anything& embracing being-card carrying traitor?Still thinks Americans r fools
— Carolyn Charlton (@ccharlamb8) August 10, 2017
This guy is such a Russian asset.
— Raymond N Hernandez (@raymondneil13) August 10, 2017
If that statement doesn’t prove Article 25 should be enacted nothing does.
— Steve Raucher (@woodstock950) August 10, 2017
It’s great having a ten-year-old for President.
— JPL (@DocteurSauvage) August 10, 2017
What Smaller payroll? Is he saying he is firing these people? Goddamnit he is stupid
— Kim AF Brat (@winetast3r) August 10, 2017
So Trump is THANKFUL Putin expelled ~755 US Diplomats bc now we have a smaller payroll…..and y’all still don’t have a problem w/this? pic.twitter.com/ygLENnG3uu
— Dorothy Zbornak (@RandomRenee_) August 10, 2017
