Putting aside what did Trump know and when did he know it, Trump's response shows

[no_hypocrisy]

that he continues to be OK with Russia making a contract with the Taliban to pay a bounty on every American soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Any other president would be (at least publicly) outraged, have a press conference or a nationally televised speech, and/or go on Twitter. And announce what he knows. And announce new and severe sanctions against Russia. I mean beyond what he's imposing upon China, Iran, and Venezuela put together. Rally 'round the Flag, Boys, etc.

But he's playing golf. Focusing on stone monuments, statues, and the Stars-and-Bars. Distracted. Disinterested that the bounty is still in effect.

It's what he's doing now as well as what he could have done.

[Skittles]

1. it's obvious Trump cares more about Putin than he does the American people

and who would have guessed that Cadet Bone Spurs doesn't give a rat's ass about the military?

[onecent]

18. AMEN!!!

I feel the same way you do Skittles!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

19. Trump cares more about Putin and putting than the American people.

His excuse for hitting the links while everyone else is staying in (unless your governor is Republican) was, "I need the exercise." Yeah, squeezing your ass into a golf cart so you can drive to your next shot burns up 25 calories.

Trump Golf Count

[ashredux]

2. Trump's silence is deafening.........

[tecelote]

3. Exactly!

Even if he didn't know, he knows now. Not a word about what he's going to do about it.

[C_U_L8R]

4. And he knows if he continues to do nothing, it will all blow over

He's made a career out that exact maneuver.

[Cha]

5. trump is a GD Hot Mess.

[bullwinkle428]

6. "Fake news" is ALWAYS his fallback position, and he knows his

cretinous base will continue to echo that until their dying breath at that 43% threshold, more or less at this point.

[chriscan64]

7. We are being prepped for the lie that it never happened at all.

First it was "He wasn't briefed". The reason given for that was that the intel wasn't vetted. Every time they tell the tale, the level of confidence in the allegation goes down a notch. This time we don't even get the courtesy of "IF it happened it would be bad", we are just on the express bus to "Russia hoax".

[gab13by13]

8. I don't think so,

Too many 4 star generals and veterans groups are calling Trump a traitor.
We also have the money trail from the GRU to the Taliban.
We have the military families of soldiers in Afghanistan demanding answers.

[chriscan64]

12. I agree that we do have all those things

and maybe that's enough to prevent him from getting away with it. I could be wrong but I think he is mostly going to avoid the subject and go with fake news if pressed. According to NBC news, Trump just tweeted "just another hoax" as I was typing this response.

[djacq]

9. As a Veteran, I'm disgusted.

[Jarqui]

10. He's being silent to see what the media comes up with

Then, they'll formulate their lies to try to tamp it down.

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. "When the going gets tough, the Trumps get going."

Anywhere but where the problem is.

[Goodheart]

13. Consider his reaction to being called "Bunker Boy"

He got intensely embarrassed and incensed when the public found out he had scurried into a bunker at the sight of White House protestors, so insisted on a grand public show two days later that gassed those same people as he led an entourage of security guards and sycophants across the street to wave a Bible in front of a church.

But where's his show of bravado here? At Putin? There is none. He doesn't dare.

[Scarsdale]

14. Maybe he asked his

good friend Vlad if this was true? Vlad denied it, and in spite of the U.S. intelligence saying otherwise, tRump ALWAYS listens to Vlad. British troops were also targeted. Britain should pull out their troops, they are being used for target practice. Let the great orange ass defend the US troops, without other countries being involved. This IS the gop war after all, isn't it?

[caraher]

15. Right

It is yet another example of his lack of interest in actually doing his job.

COVID-19 response? "Oh, it's so unfair that this is wrecking my beautiful economy (and re-election chances); the economy will come roaring back." (no mention of the dead, no plan to end the pandemic)

Putin bounty? "Nobody told me." (no outrage upon learning, no plan to put an end to the bounties or ensure there repercussions for Russia)

[keithbvadu2]

16. Trump took positive action....... FORE!

[lagomorph777]

17. Putin's Puppet proves his loyalty yet again.