Trump-Putin summit: “a very, very good start for everybody"

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Photo: Brendan Smialowski

President Trump is calling his 2+ hour one-on-one Helsinki meeting with Vladimir Putin “a very, very good start for everybody.”

"I think we have great opportunities together ... and frankly we have not been getting along very well for the last number of years ... I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship ... Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing."
— Trump's remarks to reporters as meeting began

Trump opened his remarks by congratulating Putin on "a really great World Cup, one of the best ever."

  • "We have a lot of good things to talk about and things to talk about. ... I think the world wants to see us get along, we are the two great nuclear powers."
  • "We have 90 percent of the nuclear — that’s not a good thing, that’s a bad thing. And I think we hopefully can do something about that."
  • "And with that the world awaits, and I look forward to our personal discussion."

Putin said to Trump: “Of course, the time has come that we speak extensively about our bilateral relations and various problem points around the world. There are enough of them that we ought to pay attention to them.”

The Russians said that the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders lasted a little over two hours, but White House spokesman Hogan Gidley did not confirm, the pool reports. A news conference is expected later today after an expanded meeting with more officials from each country.

Presidents Trump and Putin at a dining table in the Hall of Mirrors, flanked by officials, after their one-on-one meeting. Photo: White House Press Pool

Go deeper

Axios
Updated 10 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Health: Large coronavirus outbreaks leading to high death rates — Coronavirus cases are at an all-time high ahead of Election Day — Fauci says U.S. may not return to normal until 2022
  2. Politics: Space Force's No. 2 general tests positive for coronavirus
  3. World: Taiwan reaches a record 200 days with no local coronavirus cases
  4. Europe faces "stronger and deadlier" wave — France imposes lockdown — Germany to close bars and restaurants for a month.
  5. Sports: Boston Marathon delayed — MLB to investigate Dodgers player who joined celebration after positive COVID test.
Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Caitlin Owens, author of Vitals
18 mins ago - Health

Large coronavirus outbreaks leading to high death rates

Data: The COVID Tracking Project; Chart: Sara Wise/Axios

Many of the states where coronavirus cases have recently skyrocketed are also seeing the highest death rates in the nation, a painful reminder that wherever the virus goes, death eventually follows.

Between the lines: Deaths usually lag behind cases by a few weeks. Given America's record-high case counts, it's reasonable to expect that death rates across the country will continue to rise in tandem.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Amy Harder, author of Generate
41 mins ago - Science

Pandemic scrambles Americans' acceptance of science

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The pandemic is throwing a wrench into Americans' understanding of science, which has big implications for climate change.

Driving the news: Recent focus groups in battleground states suggest some voters are more skeptical of scientists in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while surveys reveal the persistence of a deep partisan divide.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow