It also turns out that the meeting was held at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the photographer was also a request from the Russians. Sources say that White House security was not aware that the photographer worked for a Russian state-run outfit. To say the least, there was considerable surprise that a Tass photographer was allowed to photograph the Oval Office, particularly when American media was barred.
The White House continues to flounder from crisis to crisis — many of its own making. The staff appears utterly tone deaf in arranging such events or explaining to the public, as a White House spokesman stated, Trump “chose to receive him because Putin asked him to.” Now that makes it all better. The President excluded American media. He then met with Russians at the height of a scandal over Russian influence all because Putin asked him to? The nightmare images was then complete when the American people were shown pictures from the Russians as the only permitted photographers.
Lavrov then joked about the whole scandal over Russian influence. He is likely not the only one laughing this week.
