# Trump associates may have coordinated with Russians, according to US officials **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 23, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799 "2017-03-23T00:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 238
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4745 "2018-07-16T22:58:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The smoking gub. Just apt natural. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4746 "2018-07-16T23:03:12Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Can’t. Not a dentist. Good one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4747 "2018-07-16T23:09:32Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Check out the body language. Who looks like they had a good meeting? Who looks like they got shelled? Look at the contrast with the photos and video of Trump and Putin at the G20 meeting in Germany a year ago: Putin mirrors Trump’s posture and keeps his head down: shy Vlad, so impressed by Trump! Now look at today's meeting, in which the two are posed in similar chairs. Now Putin sits back on his throne, cool and indifferent, while Trump continually glances at him as if for approval: > **[Trump winks at Putin at start of Helsinki summit – video](https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2018/jul/16/trump-winks-at-putin-at-start-of-helsinki-summit-video)** > > Donald Trump winks at Vladimir Putin in a photocall in Helsinki on Monday Clearly in their private meeting, Putin laid down the law to his minion. Possibly he gave an ultimatum: ‘sanctions must be gone within 30 days or we reveal all our material on you’. In any case, Trump is clearly cowed, and Putin sees no reason to continue to flatter Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4748 "2018-07-16T23:30:17Z")
More detail about Butina: > **[The Kremlin and GOP Have a New Friend—and Boy, Does She Love Guns](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-kremlin-and-gop-have-a-new-friendand-boy-does-she-love-guns)** > > Depending on who’s asking, Maria Butina is either a Russian central bank staffer, a gun rights advocate, or a connection between D.C. Republicans and Russia. I’ll give a non-zero chance that Trump decides to extend his stay in Russia. I think Putin is trying to get everything out of the US presidency as he can before Mueller closes the noose, and that may be close enough now that putting Trump into asylum and letting the US spin might be the final blow. The question is: Would Pence go to war with Russia? If not, then fuck the US. Take Trump hostage and laugh all the way to the bank. I’m not saying that’s likely, just that it’s more likely than should even be conceivable. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4749 "2018-07-16T23:52:11Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > More detail about Butina: > > [The Kremlin and GOP Have a New Friend—and Boy, Does She Love Guns](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-kremlin-and-gop-have-a-new-friendand-boy-does-she-love-guns) > > I’ll give a non-zero chance that Trump decides to extend his stay in Russia. That’s a pretty bold prediction, eh. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4750 "2018-07-16T23:59:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Check out the body language. Who looks like they had a good meeting? Who looks like they got shelled? > > [https://twitter.com/DevorrahTester/status/1018938503588122624?s=19](https://twitter.com/DevorrahTester/status/1018938503588122624?s=19) Man, Trump looks like a beaten dog. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4751 "2018-07-17T00:32:46Z")
Trump can’t be a Russian agent because a Russian agent would have acted less like a Russian agent than Trump did today. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4752 "2018-07-17T00:36:14Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > That’s a pretty bold prediction, eh. Really bold, given that he’s not in Russia. Helsinki is in Finland. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4753 "2018-07-17T00:38:05Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Really bold, given that he’s not in Russia. Helsinki is in Finland. Home of the famous “Stockholm syndrome.” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4754 "2018-07-17T00:40:13Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Really bold, given that he’s not in Russia. Helsinki is in Finland. Ah yes, good point. Could always decide to leave with Putin though. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4755 "2018-07-17T00:43:01Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump can’t be a Russian agent because a Russian agent would have acted less like a Russian agent than Trump did today. Why should he start being good at something _now_? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4756 "2018-07-17T00:45:17Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Check out the body language. Who looks like they had a good meeting? Who looks like they got shelled? > > [https://twitter.com/DevorrahTester/status/1018938503588122624?s=19](https://twitter.com/DevorrahTester/status/1018938503588122624?s=19) [https://imgur.com/gallery/VFUw2w4](https://imgur.com/gallery/VFUw2w4) ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4757 "2018-07-17T00:45:24Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Really bold, given that he’s not in Russia. Helsinki is in Finland. Halsinki, Sweden [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2lqnhA9d_B8/maxresdefault.jpg "Die Hard - Helsinki Syndrome") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lqnhA9d_B8) ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4758 "2018-07-17T00:59:40Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Man, Trump looks like a beaten dog. You misspelled “cuck” ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4759 "2018-07-17T01:27:38Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > You misspelled “cuck” Cuck Donald need to take off. That’s close to the perfect insult to goad his deplorables. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4760 "2018-07-17T01:30:09Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Anyway, this is, like, a big fucking story, right? Here it is. An agent of the Russian government using the NRA and Christian groups to establish a back channel with Trump, whom they were suspiciously certain would win when everyone else was preparing for President Clinton. > > Uh… God. Damn. The GOP is now the party of Putin. The question is, is there at least a handful of Howard Bakers in the party? Is there even one Howard Baker? McCain called the meeting a disgrace and Flake said similar things, but guess what? They’re both irrelevant, and everyone knows it. The real mortal threat to American democracy isn’t that just that the president has betrayed his country; it’s that the Constitutional guardrails against such betrayal no longer exist. It is now up to the American voter. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4761 "2018-07-17T01:54:31Z")
Well, thank you, Mr Sunshine! ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4762 "2018-07-17T02:33:11Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, thank you, Mr Sunshine! Can we call him Fiver yet? 😃 **Asahi** , I love your posts, but sometimes after reading them I start to search for small apartments in Calgary. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4763 "2018-07-17T02:56:05Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Can we call him Fiver yet? 😃 > > **Asahi** , I love your posts, but sometimes after reading them I start to search for small apartments in Calgary. I’ve watched enough hockey to know that the emphasis is on the second syllable. It’s cal-GARY. Also, “organization” is pronounced with a long eye, like or-gan-EYE-zation. I’m practicing. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799/4764 "2018-07-17T03:26:42Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The GOP is now the party of Putin. > > The question is, is there at least a handful of Howard Bakers in the party? Is there even one Howard Baker? > > McCain called the meeting a disgrace and Flake said similar things, but guess what? They’re both irrelevant, and everyone knows it. The real mortal threat to American democracy isn’t that just that the president has betrayed his country; it’s that the Constitutional guardrails against such betrayal no longer exist. > > It is now up to the American voter. Thing is, McCain, Flake, and Corker (and some others if they wanted) could flip tomorrow to caucus with the Senate Democrats and flip control of the Senate. Not enough to do much other than shut everything down for a few months, but it’d be more than they’re currently doing which is definitely nothing. But they’re not going to and we all know it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=237) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-associates-may-have-coordinated-with-russians-according-to-us-officials/782799.md?page=239)