NBC Hosts Commander-In-Chief Forum With Clinton And Trump

ABC News: At The Commander-In-Chief Forum, “Trump Suggested That Russian President Vladimir Putin Has Been A Better Leader Than President Obama.” At NBC’s September 7 Commander-in-Chief Forum, Donald Trump praised Russian president Vladimir Putin for having “very strong control over a country” and saying that Putin has “been a leader. Far more than our president has been a leader”:

During the forum -- where the candidates appeared separately in front of an audience made up largely of veterans -- Trump suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been a better leader than President Obama.

“The man has very strong control over a country,” he said during the town hall was hosted by MSNBC/NBC on the Intrepid aircraft carrier. “Now It's a very different system and I don't happen to like the system, but certainly in that system, he's been a leader. Far more than our president has been a leader.”

Trump did very little to tamper controversial talk about how he has been friendly with Russia throughout his campaign.

“I think I would have a very, very good relationship with Putin. I think i would have a very, very good relationship with Russia,” Trump said. [ABC News, 9/7/16]

Media Figures Blast Trump For Praising Russian President Vladimir Putin

NYTimes’ Nicholas Kristof: “Trump’s Most Appalling Response Was Praising Putin As A Better Leader Than Obama. Putin’s A Thug Engaged In War Crimes In Syria & Ukraine.”

Trump's most appalling response was praising Putin as a better leader than Obama. Putin's a thug engaged in war crimes in Syria & Ukraine.

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

Wash. Post’s Josh Rogin: “Trump Just Drew An Equivalence Between Putin’s Anti-Democratic Crackdown And Hillary’s Emails. It’s The Russian Propaganda Line.”

Trump just drew an equivalence between Putin's anti-democratic crackdown and Hillary's emails. It's the Russian propaganda line.

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

The Economist’s David Rennie: “Trump On Putin: ‘The Man Has Very Strong Control Of His Country.’ Criticizes Obama For His ‘Divided’ Country. Pesky Stuff, Democracy.”

Trump on Putin: “The man has very strong control of his country.” Criticises Obama for his “divided” country. Pesky stuff, democracy

— David Rennie (@DSORennie) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

The Federalist’s Tom Nichols: “Trump Cites Putin’s Approval Ratings As Though They’re Real. And Then Draws An Equivalence Between Putin And Obama. Dear God.”

Trump cites Putin's approval ratings as though they're real. And then draws an equivalence between Putin and Obama. Dear God.#NBCNewsForum

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

ABC’s Matthew Dowd: “Trump Just Said That Putin, Who Has Killed Press People, Annexed A Country, Is A Better Leader Than President Obama. Wow.”

Trump just said that Putin, who has killed press people, annexed a country, is a better leader than President Obama. Wow.

— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

Politico’s Roger Simon: “Asked Why He Likes Putin, Trump Replies: “He Does Have An 82% Approval Rating … He Is Very Much Of A Leader.” Is This For Real?”

Asked why he likes Putin, Trump replies: “He does have an 82% approval rating...he is very much of a leader.”

Is this for real?

— Roger Simon (@politicoroger) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

The Daily Beast’s Jackie Kucinich: “‘Putin? Vladimir Putin? Did All That? Nah.’ - Trump, Basically.”

“Putin? Vladimir Putin? Did all that? Nah.” - Trump, basically.

— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

CNN's Paul Begala: “Well, In All Fairness To Trump, Putin's Not A Gold Star Mother Or A POW; Not A Person W/A Disability, So Why Attack Him?”

Well, in fairness to Trump, Putin's not a Gold Star mother or a POW; not a person w/a disability, so why attack him? https://t.co/7Az1IZWiVX

— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

Mother Jones’ David Corn: “Asked About Putin’s Thuggish Ways, Trump: ‘Want Me To Name Some Of The Things That Pres. Obama Does?’ Wow. Just Wow.”

Asked about Putin's thuggish ways, Trump: “Want me to name some of the things that Pres. Obama does?” Wow. Just wow.

— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]

MSNBC’s Joy Reid: “OMG… Trump Is Touting Authoritarian Russian President Putin’s 88 Percent Approval Rating…”

OMG... Trump is touting authoritarian Russian president Putin's 88 percent approval rating... #CinCForum

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 8, 2016

[Twitter, 9/7/16]