Batting for warm relations with Russia, President Donald Trump has said it is a "good thing" if the US gets along with Moscow as both are nuclear powers. "It would be great if we could get along with Russia, just so you understand that. Now tomorrow, you'll say Donald Trump wants to get along with Russia, this is terrible. It's not terrible. It's good," Trump told reporters at a White House news conference on Thursday.
He was responding to a series of questions on some of the recent provocative behaviour of Russia. Asked if Putin was testing him, Trump said he did not think so. "No, I don't think so. I think Putin probably assumes that he can't make a deal with me anymore because politically it would be unpopular for a politician to make a deal. I can't believe I'm saying I'm a politician, but I guess that's what I am now. It would be much easier for me to be tough on Russia, but then we're not going to make a deal," Trump said.
Trump said he wanted to do the right thing for the world. "To be honest, secondarily, I want to do the right thing for the world. If Russia and the United States actually got together and got along – and don't forget, we're a very powerful nuclear country and so are they. There's no upside. And, anybody that ever read the most basic book can say it, nuclear holocaust would be like no other," Trump said. "They're a very powerful nuclear country and so are we. If we have a good relationship with Russia, believe me, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump said. He alleged that the previous administration was soft on Russia.
