Trump gets played by Putin days after U.S. indicts 12 Russians for election meddling

Editorial cartoonists around the world are lampooning President Trump's bromance with Russian dictator and Syrian war criminal Vladimir Putin. Kevin Siers of The Charlotte Observer pulls no punches, above. See The Cagle Post for more.

Holds ex-KGB spy blameless

after acting like drunk uncle with allies

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman called on President Trump to step down after his shameful performance on Monday in Finland.

Standing next to Vladimir Putin -- the ex-KGB spy he met with behind closed doors -- Trump backed the dictator's claims of innocence over U.S. officials who have condemned Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

Remarkably, no member of the U.S. media laughed in his face or shouted, "Shame on you!"

Just last Friday, the Justice Department unveiled indictments of 12 Russian intelligence officers on charges of hacking Democrats' computers during the 2016 campaign. 

Your drunk uncle

Trump went to the meeting in Helsinki, Finland, after acting like your drunk uncle by insulting everyone -- high and low -- and making inappropriate comments in Europe and Great Britain.

All of that was on display at the NATO meeting this week and during his visit to London, where he blasted Prime Minister Theresa May in a newspaper interview, then praised her in person.

Is Trump off his meds? Did he ever take them during the 2016 presidential campaign? Talk about a loose cannon.

The White House insisted the so-called summit meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was on despite the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officers.

Treasonous

Of course, whether that interference affected the outcome is beside the point. If Trump campaign officials knew about Russian hacking of Democrats, that's treasonous on its face.

Also this week, The New York Times published the "complete list" of the 487 "people, places and things" Trump has insulted on Twitter since he became president.

That number likely soared close to or over 500, if you include his bombshells at the NATO meeting and in London.

The two faces of President Trump were explored in cartoons by Steve Greenberg, above, and Sherif Arafat of Egypt, below. Above, Trump says, "Keep your friends close ... and your enemies closer."

A happy face to the Russian Bear, left, a howling maniac to NATO officials.

Dutch cartoonist Tom Janssen shows how Trump left Europe and England in shambles, but has nothing but good things to say about Putin.

The anti-Trump demonstration in London was the focus of cartoonists Bob Englehart, above, and Sean Delonas, below.

Delonas, onetime cartoonist at the New York Post, shows how Trump provided the "hot air" for London's "Baby Trump Balloon."