What Does Trump’s Phone Call Mean? Top Pundits Are Baffled and Confused by Surprise Move

- Rather surprising and urgent news — the conversation between Putin and Trump. We'll ask David Filippov how can it impact the American politics because everything's not that simple in Washington. In the morning, a senior official says there would be no conversations. Twelve hours later Trump calls Putin.

David Filippov, journalist:  It's not the first time Trump wakes up and cuts across his own politics. But let's look at it from our allies' perspective. Whether it was good or bad, right or wrong they still accused Putin of ordering weapon employment on the territory of an ally state. And now, Trump congratulates this person. He created a…

 

- You're quoting CNN, right?

- I'm demonstrating how the event will be viewed. And the West would have a just reaction. Once again, he creates problems for himself because everybody's going to say that instead of protecting us, our allies, and our interests the President supports dictators. But it's not the main point. His own White House conditioned us to believe that there would be no phone call. And then, he decided to contradict the policy that was carefully prepared by his advisers to avoid the problems and the inevitable reaction I've just mentioned. Read the headlines tomorrow. Everything I've just said will be there. "Why does our President oppose our allies?" Thank you.

- Mr. Kalashnikov, regarding the negative Wikipedia article you are free to delete anything there. And let's address the British issue.

Leonid Kalashnikov, State Duma Deputy: Nothing's been proven there. And now, you're afraid to offend your allies and prove everything within a week. You haven't said anything yet. You mention the OPCW and say you're afraid of offending your allies. Have they proven anything to be offended?

David Filippov: No, they're on their own now.

Leonid Kalashnikov: There's such thing as diplomatic etiquette. Countries always congratulate each other. And you say there's no such thing. That's ridiculous. If they had to…

- It seems like the only person to foresee the call was Peskov. And it'll become additional compromising evidence on Trump.

David Filippov: Speaking of politics…

- We'll wait for the report on CNN.

David Filippov: Both the Kremlin and the White House said there might be no call. That's diplomacy for you.

Leonid Kalashnikov: That's the game that you're playing.

- It just shows that you have no consolidated policy and no control over the situation in the country.