A handful of House conservatives rushed to the defense of President Donald Trump, pushing back on the wave of criticism over his performance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, The Hill reports.
The bloc of defenders criticized the media and pushed back on members of their own party, saying Trump is not getting credit for even holding the summit with Putin, an important part of diplomatic efforts with Russia.
"I think it was good for the president to be engaged in diplomacy," The Hill quoted Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, from a press conference. "The reality is people are upset about what President Trump has said, but they're not giving him credit for what he's done."
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said Sen. John McCain's harsh comments about Trump's performance were out of line, adding a slam on the media, too.
"I'm glad we've got the summit, and I wish they [the media] would focus on the positive aspects of his actions," The Hill quoted Norman.
Rep. Andy Biggs lamented the "idiocy" of some of the questions the media lobbed at Trump and Putin, and Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said Congress should keep its eye on the ball rather than critique the president's words at a press conference.
"We're critiquing a press conference today instead of critiquing our own inaction as it relates to that," Meadows said Monday, The Hill reported.
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