Trump facing his 'biggest test' after undermining US intelligence - Lloyd Burr

  • 17/07/2018

Donald Trump is facing one of the greatest tests of his presidency following a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Newshub Europe correspondent Lloyd Burr says.

In a press conference after the one-on-one meeting, Mr Trump said he believed there was no Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

He consistently denied any collusion and called an inquiry into the election a "disaster".

Those comments have caused a great deal of upset in the United States, even among Republicans and right-wing media, Burr told The AM Show.

"The president doth protest too much and the more he made those denials the more it sounded like there was some sort of collusion going on," Burr said.

"So it really is causing a huge upset, I think this is going to test Trump quite a lot, probably the most he's been tested in his presidency so far."

Burr said Mr Trump undermined the US democracy, intelligence services and legal system during the press conference.

"He wanted to wing it, he has winged it and look at the situation he's in now," Burr said.

"You've got some of those loyal most right wingers, those Republicans who have come out, they're actually blasting him."

Prominent Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have called the comments a sign of weakness and a disgrace.

Mr McCain called the press conference "'the most disgraceful performance by an American president in living memory".

The media has taken aim at Mr Trump too, including one of the hosts of Fox and Friends, a show known for being right-wing.

"You've also got a host of Fox and Friends... who's come out saying no negotiations are worth throwing your country and the people in that country under the bus for," Burr said.

"It is polarising Donald Trump's supporters, his very core grassroots supporters and I think this is going to be the biggest test he's had to face."

Newshub.