During a CNN panel discussion on former FBI Director James Comey's memos that were released Thursday night, CNN host Chris Cuomo pointed to the Kremlin's response that called attention to the most tawdry aspects to the revelations which illustrated how Russian President Vladimir Putin subtly trolled President Donald Trump.
Speaking with CNN analysts Laura Coates and Josh Campbell, the "New Day" hosts read an official Kremlin statement that addressed the report that Putin boasted to Trump that Russia has “the most beautiful hookers in the world,” during a brief conversation.
According to a statement from Russian Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, "President Putin could not say such a thing and did not say it to President Trump, taking in to account that they had never communicated before Trump became President. As for the main content of the book, I do not presume to judge. We did not read it."
Pointing a Bloomberg report that showed there had been a discussion, host Cuomo pointed out that the Kremlin statement was an intentional jab at Trump
"It's a reminder politically that Vladimir Putin is not Donald Trump's friend," Cuomo explained. "There may be a softness here trying to manage to make the relationship better. But every opportunity that Vladimir Putin has to embarrass him and expose the president of the United States, he does it. Even on something as tawdry as this."
"Certainly, and he capitalizes on it, of course," Coates added. "That's one of the reasons people have been questioning, including former FBI Director James Comey in his interviews, why is it that this president of the United States is supportive and not antagonistic to Vladimir Putin. He raises issues that have not been up. He tells people 'don't picture a pink elephant,' that's all they ever see."
Watch the video below via CNN:
