Trump lashes out at media, Democrats as he travels to meet with Putin

President Trump on Sunday asserted that “much” of the media is the “enemy of the people” and blamed Democrats for division in the country as he prepared to head to Finland for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a series of tweets sent while he was aboard Air Force One, Trump predicted that he will not receive proper credit for his meeting with Putin, regardless of what he accomplishes.

“Heading to Helsinki, Finland – looking forward to meeting with President Putin tomorrow. Unfortunately, no matter how well I do at the Summit, if I was given the great city of Moscow as retribution for all of the sins and evils committed by Russia over the years, I would return to criticism that it wasn’t good enough – that I should have gotten Saint Petersburg in addition!” Trump tweeted.

{mosads}

“Much of our news media is indeed the enemy of the people and all the Dems know how to do is resist and obstruct!” he continued. “This is why there is such hatred and dissension in our country – but at some point, it will heal!”

…over the years, I would return to criticism that it wasn’t good enough – that I should have gotten Saint Petersburg in addition! Much of our news media is indeed the enemy of the people and all the Dems…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2018

…know how to do is resist and obstruct! This is why there is such hatred and dissension in our country – but at some point, it will heal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2018

Trump has continued to label the media the “enemy of the people,” even after a gunman killed five employees at an Annapolis, Md., newspaper last month. He has previously lashed out at the press for its coverage of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, complaining that it has not focused enough on the positive outcomes.

Trump is set to meet with Putin on Monday, just days after the Department of Justice announced charges against a dozen Russians for allegedly conspiring to hack Democratic servers during the 2016 election.

Trump has not condemned Putin or Russia for the charges, instead blaming the Obama administration and the Democratic National Committee for allowing the hack to happen.

Several Democrats have called for the meeting to be scrapped in light of the indictments, expressing concerns that Trump is not adequately prepared to confront Putin on the matter.

Trump has drawn frequent criticism from lawmakers for his reluctance to speak out against the Russian president. During a rally in Montana earlier this month, Trump declared that Putin is “fine.”

“They’re going ‘Will President Trump be prepared, you know, President Putin is KGB and this and that,’ ” Trump said. “You know what? Putin’s fine. He’s fine. We’re all fine. We’re people. Will I be prepared? Totally prepared. I’ve been preparing for this stuff my whole life.”

Trump said in an interview broadcast earlier Sunday that he has “low expectations” for his meeting with Putin.