Trump says was being 'sarcastic' in thanking Putin for embassy staff cutsBEDMINSTER, NJ (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he was being sarcastic when he thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for saving the United States money by ordering cuts in U.S. diplomatic staff in Russia. Asked whether he was being sarcastic, Trump told reporters: “In order to reduce our payroll, absolutely. I think you know that,” Trump said without explicitly criticizing the move. Breaking nearly two weeks of silence on Putin’s July 30 order cutting U.S. embassy and consulate staff by nearly two thirds, Trump said on Thursday: “I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” adding “there’s no real reason for them to go back.” Trump’s remarks rekindled criticism of his kid-glove handling of Putin, especially as he has not shied away from being highly critical of members of his own party, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Putin, reacting to new sanctions imposed by the U.S. Congress and reluctantly signed into law by Trump, ordered Washington to cut its diplomatic and technical staff by 755 people by Sept. 1. Many of those affected likely will be local Russian staffers. It was also a reaction to former President Barack Obama expelling 35 Russian diplomats from the United States last December over the intelligence agency reports. “I was just speaking to the Secretary (of State Rex Tillerson) and we’re talking about coming up with an answer ... by September 1st we’ll have a response,” Trump said. Congressional committees and a special counsel are investigating the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election campaign by hacking and other methods to help Trump, a Republican. They are also looking into possible collusion between the campaign and Russian officials. Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in the election and Trump denies any campaign collusion. During his campaign and since becoming president, Trump has consistently called for better ties with Russia, declined to criticize Putin and refused to unequivocally embrace the conclusions of the intelligence agencies. Trump’s remarks were immediately denounced by current and former U.S. officials who have served both Republican and Democratic administrations. The remarks also raised some eyebrows in Europe. “I would have to say in my experience (it is) one of the most bizarre things I have ever heard from any government official, not just the U.S.,” Ojars Kalnins, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Latvian parliament, told Reuters earlier on Friday. “Thanking another foreign leader for firing people from their embassy is unprecedented. It’s bizarre.” politicsNews
trump says thanking putin embassy staff cutsbedminster nj reuters president donald trump said friday sarcastic thanked russian president vladimir putin saving united states money ordering cuts diplomatic staff russia asked whether sarcastic trump told reporters in order reduce payroll absolutely i think know trump said without explicitly criticizing move breaking nearly two weeks silence putin july order cutting embassy consulate staff nearly two thirds trump said thursday i thankful let go large number people smaller payroll adding real reason go trump remarks reminded criticism handling putin especially shield away highly critical members party including attorney general jeff sessions senate majority leader mitch mcconnell putin reacting new sanctions imposed congress reluctantly signed law trump ordered washington cut diplomatic technical staff people many affected likely local russian staffers it also reaction former president barack obama expelling russian diplomats united states last december intelligence agency reports i speaking secretary state rex tillerson talking coming answer september response trump said congressional committees special counsel investigating conclusions intelligence agencies russia interfered election campaign hacking methods help trump republican they also looking possible collusion campaign russian officials moscow repeatedly denied meddling election trump denies campaign collusion during campaign since becoming president trump consistently called better ties russia declined criticize putin refused unequivocally embrace conclusions intelligence agencies trump remarks immediately denounced current former officials served republican democratic administrations the remarks also raised eyebrows europe i would say experience one bizarre things i ever heard government official jars kalnins chairman foreign affairs committee latvia parliament told reuters earlier friday thanking another foreign leader firing people embassy unprecedented it politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump says was being 'sarcastic' in thanking Putin for embassy staff cutsBEDMINSTER, NJ (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he was being sarcastic when he thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for saving the United States money by ordering cuts in U.S. diplomatic staff in Russia. Asked whether he was being sarcastic, Trump told reporters: “In order to reduce our payroll, absolutely. I think you know that,” Trump said without explicitly criticizing the move. Breaking nearly two weeks of silence on Putin’s July 30 order cutting U.S. embassy and consulate staff by nearly two thirds, Trump said on Thursday: “I’m very thankful that he let go of a large number of people because now we have a smaller payroll,” adding “there’s no real reason for them to go back.” Trump’s remarks rekindled criticism of his kid-glove handling of Putin, especially as he has not shied away from being highly critical of members of his own party, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Putin, reacting to new sanctions imposed by the U.S. Congress and reluctantly signed into law by Trump, ordered Washington to cut its diplomatic and technical staff by 755 people by Sept. 1. Many of those affected likely will be local Russian staffers. It was also a reaction to former President Barack Obama expelling 35 Russian diplomats from the United States last December over the intelligence agency reports. “I was just speaking to the Secretary (of State Rex Tillerson) and we’re talking about coming up with an answer ... by September 1st we’ll have a response,” Trump said. Congressional committees and a special counsel are investigating the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election campaign by hacking and other methods to help Trump, a Republican. They are also looking into possible collusion between the campaign and Russian officials. Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in the election and Trump denies any campaign collusion. During his campaign and since becoming president, Trump has consistently called for better ties with Russia, declined to criticize Putin and refused to unequivocally embrace the conclusions of the intelligence agencies. Trump’s remarks were immediately denounced by current and former U.S. officials who have served both Republican and Democratic administrations. The remarks also raised some eyebrows in Europe. “I would have to say in my experience (it is) one of the most bizarre things I have ever heard from any government official, not just the U.S.,” Ojars Kalnins, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Latvian parliament, told Reuters earlier on Friday. “Thanking another foreign leader for firing people from their embassy is unprecedented. It’s bizarre.” politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump says thanking putin embassy staff cutsbedminster nj reuters president donald trump said friday sarcastic thanked russian president vladimir putin saving united states money ordering cuts diplomatic staff russia asked whether sarcastic trump told reporters in order reduce payroll absolutely i think know trump said without explicitly criticizing move breaking nearly two weeks silence putin july order cutting embassy consulate staff nearly two thirds trump said thursday i thankful let go large number people smaller payroll adding real reason go trump remarks reminded criticism handling putin especially shield away highly critical members party including attorney general jeff sessions senate majority leader mitch mcconnell putin reacting new sanctions imposed congress reluctantly signed law trump ordered washington cut diplomatic technical staff people many affected likely local russian staffers it also reaction former president barack obama expelling russian diplomats united states last december intelligence agency reports i speaking secretary state rex tillerson talking coming answer september response trump said congressional committees special counsel investigating conclusions intelligence agencies russia interfered election campaign hacking methods help trump republican they also looking possible collusion campaign russian officials moscow repeatedly denied meddling election trump denies campaign collusion during campaign since becoming president trump consistently called better ties russia declined criticize putin refused unequivocally embrace conclusions intelligence agencies trump remarks immediately denounced current former officials served republican democratic administrations the remarks also raised eyebrows europe i would say experience one bizarre things i ever heard government official jars kalnins chairman foreign affairs committee latvia parliament told reuters earlier friday thanking another foreign leader firing people embassy unprecedented it politicsnews