NPR

On Russia, Two Trumps: In D.C., Constrained; For The Nation, Defiant

One day, the president signed a bill sanctioning Russia and acknowledged interference in the 2016 election. The next day, he told supporters in West Virginia "the Russia story is a total fabrication."
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Huntington, W.Va., on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. / Susan Walsh / Shutterstock.com

Presidents learn quickly to enthuse about how much they love to get out of Washington, D.C., but President Trump becomes almost a different man entirely.

One day, Trump signed legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia — and taking away his ability to lift them unilaterally — in part because Congress wanted to punish Moscow for its interference in the 2016 presidential election.

"I ... support making clear that America will not tolerate interference in our democratic process, and that we will side with our allies and friends issued by the White House when he signed the bill.

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