The Biden-Putin Summit is Underway and the Right Wants It to Fail

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Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 01:32 pm

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are currently meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, for a high-stakes summit. The meeting comes as Biden criticizes Russia for its interference in American elections and for its role in recent cyberattacks, and as the Biden administration imposes sanctions on Moscow for its aggression.

The two leaders shook hands at the start of the summit, which is expected to last four to five hours.

Soon after, criticism rained down from high-profile Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who likened the summit to a “pipeline” that will further Russian interests over American ones.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) derided Biden as “pathetically weak.

Republican candidate Laverne Spicer, who is running for election in Florida, claimed that Putin “speaks better English than” President Biden and later claimed that Biden and his “klan” are undermining the nation.

Daily Wire reporter Ryan Saavedra accused Biden of “already caving on the world stage.”

The White House later defended Biden when critics suggested he was indicating he trusts Putin when he nodded in response to a reporter’s shouted question.

“During a chaotic free for all with members of the press shouting questions over each other, the President gave a general head nod in the direction of the media. He wasn’t responding to any question or anything other than the chaos,” Psaki said.

“I think it’s always better to meet face to face, try to determine where we have mutual interest, cooperate,” Biden said earlier, adding that he is seeking a “predictable” and “rational” relationship between the two countries.