WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump's extraordinary remarks Monday, siding with Russian President Vladmir Putin's denials of 2016 campaign meddling over U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion, has left U.S. and foreign diplomats worried that the United States will no longer be a reliable partner, will no longer defend other countries and will no longer stand up to its adversaries.
Trump, they say, is clearly out on his own with his controversial views but as president of the United States he could change decades of precedence.
"By walking away from that in such a blatant way in front of the guy who we all know was responsible, he has put this country in a position that I cannot think of an American president ever putting us in," said James Jeffrey, who served in the administration of Republican President George W. Bush as U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Turkey and deputy national security adviser. "We're not going to be able to mobilize anybody for anything after this unless he shows real toughness toward Russia, which kind of undercuts the whole purpose of going over there."
