Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, said Wednesday he thought President Trump’s decision to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin was “hilarious.”
“I thought it was hilarious,” Gohmert told reporters Wednesday.
“He loves to tweak his enemies, those that despise him. He knows he didn’t do anything illegal in colluding with Russia, and you’ve got all these people freaking out,” said the Texas conservative. “So I think it was just a way to tweak his enemies’ nose and watch them go ballistic.”
“I cracked up,” he added. “I thought it was hilarious.”
Gohmert’s comments came during the monthly “Conversations with Conservatives” event, where one of his colleagues took issue with the president’s decision.
“I did not,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., responding to Gohmert. “I thought it was ill-advised.”
According to the Washington Post, Trump was explicitly warned against congratulating the Russian leader on his win in what is not considered to be a free and fair election.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, slammed the president’s congratulations to Putin, saying that he “insulted” Russians who were unable to vote in the “sham” election.
“An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections,” McCain said. “And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election to determine their country’s future, including the countless Russian patriots who have risked so much to protest and resist Putin’s regime.”
