News Analysis

Trump's wrecking ball diplomacy leaves governments from Bonn to Beijing even more perplexed

US President Donald Trump at a joint news conference in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he has failed to hold accountable for meddling in the 2016 US election. PHOTO: NYTIMES
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WASHINGTON - To listen to the chorus of criticism that seems to inevitably trail US President Donald Trump wherever he goes, his latest trip to Europe has undermined ties with allies across the Atlantic, left a bad taste in Britain and handed Russia's poker-faced strongman Vladimir Putin a champagne-and-caviar moment.

Mr Trump returned home to a political tornado over his failure to hold Mr Putin accountable for meddling in the 2016 US election. The backlash prompted him to backtrack on his comments - although begrudgingly - on Tuesday (July 17), but the damage is done.

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