Last Updated: Thursday, 11:04 a.m. EDT
Russian officials, at least, seem to be enjoying the turmoil that’s engulfed Washington since last night, when President Donald Trump abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey, to derail his investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The first hint of that came when the country’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, arrived at the State Department on Wednesday and immediately joked about Comey’s firing. Lavrov turned comic after his host, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, uttered a few words of welcome. As the two men then turned to leave, Andrea Mitchell of NBC News shouted out: “Does the Comey firing cast a shadow over your talks, gentlemen?”
Reporter: Does the Comey firing cast a shadow over your talks?
Lavrov: "Was he fired? You're kidding." https://t.co/EA1e2llZNx
— CNN (@CNN) May 10, 2017
While Tillerson ignored the question and started to walk away, Lavrov widened his eyes in mock surprise and asked, “Was he fired?” Informed that Comey was indeed fired, the foreign minister pretended to be shocked, shocked, saying, “You’re kidding! You’re kidding!” He then dismissively shook his head and walked off.
Just in case anyone missed Lavrov trolling the American reporter — the same one he had scolded last month in Moscow — the Russian foreign ministry then posted the video on Twitter, along with a transcription of the boss’s gag.
#Lavrov: Was FBI Director James Comey fired? You’re kidding! pic.twitter.com/5OXNKBF2QA
— MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) May 10, 2017
The trolling only seemed to increase later in the day, when the foreign ministry released images of Lavrov and Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, bantering with Trump in the Oval Office.
Find more pictures of Sergey Lavrov's visit to Washington, DC on @MFA_Russia's Flickr account ?https://t.co/TKMEUwjbDp? pic.twitter.com/zsJHbjBOh5
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) May 10, 2017
Photos of Trump's meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak just hit the Getty wire and they're all credited to Russian news agency TASS pic.twitter.com/qE9lWB6KuS
— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) May 10, 2017
Friends
Friends
1, 2, 3
All my friends are here with me. pic.twitter.com/20FTJv2F8B— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) May 10, 2017
Since the White House had barred American journalists from reporting on Trump’s meeting with the diplomats, the only available images were those released by the Russian government, via the foreign ministry’s press office, and the state-owned news agency Tass.
#Lavrov – @realDonaldTrump meeting has just started | ? ???????? ???????? ???????? ??????? ?.??????? ? ?.???????#RussiaUSA #????????? pic.twitter.com/7raFrkWhiC
— MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) May 10, 2017
The Russian Embassy in Washington also made sure to draw attention to a photograph of Trump grinning as he shook hands with Kislyak — the same Russian ambassador he fired his national security adviser, Michael Flynn, for talking to about U.S. sanctions related to Russian efforts to get him elected president.
Ambassador Kislyak and President Trump / ????? ?.?????? ? ????????? ?.????? pic.twitter.com/Ckkx2YL9KX
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) May 10, 2017
The Russian troll game is SO GOOD you are all powerless before it.
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) May 10, 2017
Kislyak’s presence was not unusual — he attended a similar Oval Office meeting in 2009, when Lavrov met then-President Barack Obama and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton — but it might have gone unreported if the Russian government had not released its own images. The Trump White House failed to mention that Kislyak was there in its text-only account of the meeting with Lavrov.
Michael McFaul, Obama’s ambassador to Russia, pointed out that the White House press corps had been allowed in to hear the opening remarks from Obama and Lavrov in 2009.
Note the multiple microphones at the Obama-Lavrov press spray in 2009. pic.twitter.com/rODq8g6Wgo
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) May 10, 2017
An unidentified senior Trump administration official told the Washington Post later that the Russian diplomats had misled them about the photographer, who was described as the foreign minister’s official photographer. They were surprised that photographs of the president grinning and shaking hands with Lavrov and Kislyak were posted online by the ministry and provided to news organizations.
“We were not informed by the Russians that their official photographer was dual-hatted and would be releasing the photographs on the state news agency,” the White House official said, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of how state control of the press works in Russia.
“They tricked us,” a White House official told CNN. “They lie.”
WH furious over Russian government photos of Trump meeting with Lavrov/Kislyak. "They tricked us," an official said of Russians "They lie."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 11, 2017
By Thursday morning, the fact that American reporters were shocked that Russian state media had somehow been granted exclusive access to a photo-op in the White House had become a subject of further amusement for Russian officials.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign minister’s spokeswoman — who referred to an image of Lavrov grinning as Trump shook his hand as an “epic photo” on her Facebook page — confirmed to the Russian state news site Sputnik that the Oval Office images had been taken by Alexandr Scherbak, “a Tass news agency photo correspondent who was acting as Lavrov’s personal photographer.”
For good measure, late Wednesday night, Zakharova also compiled and shared a collection of more than 200 tweets from stunned American journalists reacting to the White House getting played by the Russians, calling it evidence of “real hysteria in the U.S. media.”
Wow, Just Wow.
Can the adults in the room please stand up?
This is journalism?
RM, your CV is complete, I’m sure the WaPo will be in touch.
I read the whole article yet still no idea what the agenda of that meeting was?
Yeah, it is an excellent peace of journalism…
But in fact, the meeting was quite important.
According to the statements it was agreed that the US will participate in securing the existing frontlines in Syria, which is the key component of the Russian-Turkish peace plan for Syria. The US will be responsible for the South, meaning securing the border region to Israel (including Golan). Although this region is not central for the war in Syria, I think it to be important that the US is openly working together with Russia and de facto also with Assad and Iran. Obama did the same by the way, but because of all the fuzz about Russian connections of Trump and of course the air strike, it was an important reaffirmation of US’ stance concerning the Syrian war.
In todays meeting of Trump and Erdogan US’ strategy concerning Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan will become clear as well. There is some uncertainty because of US’ support for the YPG/PKK, which the Trump-administration has even expanded. If Trump told Erdogan today that he thinks support for the Kurdish communists is central for defeating Daesch and Erdogan should shut up about PKK-terrorism it would lead to push back Turkey’s role in Syria and Iraq significantly. In these days in Germany there is some talk about moving the German air base from Turkey to Jordan, which points in the same direction.
This is basically a just a gossip page. Nothing of substance. Just the same old story of “devious” Russians plotting or doing something sinister
I am increasingly surprised to read this kind of stuff here.
Whatever happened to the Intercept
Hey! Finally a picture of Trump smiling. Is it troubling that it’s only when he shaking a Russian’s hand?
LOOK AT THEIR FACES.
Donald is in his environment. These guys are having a really really good time. Donald would say something like – “How do you like my new office?” And they will howl with lafter – not because they disrespect it, but out of modesty having believed that such an office is any advantage when it is not – it’s a trap. And then Donald might say “Remember when i used to getthings done?” and they would howl again. And Lavrov might say “They didnt tell you by maybe this is your retirement home and you didnt see the sign” and they would howl again.
I can tell you, by the looks on their faces, they were doing their own SNL from start to end.
Lavrov “You going to bomb us?”
Trump: “You mean blow you all to pieces off the face of the planet?”
Lavrov: “Hold your arm out so i can see if you have jumpy push button finger”
Trump: “even if i did, i shot my wad in the 59 missiles i released on that syrian air field”
Lavrov: “ok. and a good one too. you kill more insects than exterminator. You bum. You were supposed to tear up the runway so we could get repaving job!!”
Trump: “what can i say, my aim was bad. Check it out, the people in this country want to hang me for not getting permission to use my own toilet. and now they want me to strike north korea. If i go around the world blowing places up and killing people, where am i going to build my hotels, and who’s going to be left to rent rooms!”
i’m telling you – these guys are having a great time making fun of the bureaucratic nightmare that the whores of congress have turned the US into. Indeed there are a few good laws, but mostly it’s thousands of pages of warplans pitting the people against wallstreet corporat thieves who make a killing robbing the middle class, INSTEAD OF BUILDING IT.
I genuinely have no idea what the purpose of this article is, or the point of having Robert Mackey on The Intercept.
Also, couldn’t Mackey be bothered to update the article with the statement of the photographer criticizing the media hysteria and pointing out how perfectly normal this arrangement was? https://twitter.com/jeffreycarr/status/862789417378787328
“I’m appealing to American journalists not to lose their sense of professional dignity”
I pray you are being sarcastic.
If by sarcastic you mean serious then yes.
I certainly hope he’s not.
This sums up about half of the absurdity of modern western journalism.l
Oh, he’s friendly with Russian diplomats. How dare he. Will a commission be set up to get to the bottom of this?
I’ve given up commenting Robert Lackey’s drivel, but Lord… is this ever some drivel.
You’ve outdone yourself sir, truly. I’m having trouble spelling correctly, the effect has been so profound.
Please, cease, desist, leave TI alone. One of the last decent bastions of real journalism, do not sully it.
The New Republic is now more worthwhile than most of this site.
So are Circa.com, theduran.com, zerohedge.com and even the remains of Fox News (for gods sake) where multiple hosts are regularly interviewing the likes of Assange, Craig Murray, Binney, Drake and that troublemaker Greenwald etc.
The Intercept (of all places) should be heavy on developing patriotic constitution loving current or former intelligence and military Professionals as sources.
In many situations, the US media designates 1 cameraperson or photographer to have acess to a meeting. They shoot and then that content is distributed to all other media outlets.
Not once did this ever occur to anyone in the White House? REALLY?
The Powers that Be continue to hype the “Russians manipulated the election” line. But not once has anyone publically produced this actual proof. And they never will. What if they’re lying and there is no “evidence”. As long as they say it’s “classified”, nobody will ever be able to prove it. Unless of course someone leaks it.
Russians smile, so i guess that’s make them evil…Ronald Reagan was right : it feels so good to make Russians bad again. Deep State wants a war against Russia, so it ‘s time for America to forget it went to war in the middle-east, creating proxy wars everywhere, destabilizing central America, murdering with drones and bombing above any international law… Trump is a buffoon alright… But it’s irresponsible to push for a war with Russia, as Hillary Clinton seemed so eager to push for during her campaign. Now, “Deep State” must have convinced Trump that he ought to bomb Syria just to prove he’s not Putin’s puppet…It was written in Podesta’s leaked e-mails : U.S is stronger with a strong enemy. You can blame Putin for being a murderer, while the U.S , though the main killer of civilians in the world (check it on democracynow.org, the U.S ‘ve killed more civilians in Syria than Putin and Assad combined!). It allows a double standard : civilians casualties involving Russians are war crimes, and collateral damage if supported by the U.S. I think it would be more constructive to help the Sioux nation in North Dakota defend themselves from the leaking dapl (Dakota Access pipeline). it’s leaking and polluting, and Trump invested in it. And Trudeau in Canada is no better. It’s about saving our nature and water, not fighting the Russians… Stop wasting time with this childish Russian meddling… No one can meddle like the U.S ! Ask Snowden.
“Stop wasting time with this childish Russian meddling”
But Lavrov made fun of US journalists. You certainly must understand that this is far more important than anything else.
But maybe if you could find a unanimous source cited in a tweet that there might be a Russian bank (meaning the Kremlin, meaning Putin) has invested in the DAPL someone like Mackey could write about how Russia meddled with US environmental and energy policies.
haha, I guess you’re right ! Not to mention that american natives were once called “the reds” witch might add some confusion with the U.S.S.R empire. ;)
You know what would really help Robert? If the DNC would let the FBI actually look at their server for evidence of “hacking”.
As it stands, all this “meddling” talk merely brings to mind is a bunch of 1970’s era teenagers riding around in a van with a talking dog with a speech impediment. Were the Russians meddling by dressing up as ghosts and haunting abandoned amusement parks too? ‘Cause that would be terrible.
‘calling it evidence of “real hysteria in the U.S. media.”’ For exhibit A, see this article.
A whole lot of statements and assumptions coming off here as “facts” concerning the Russian Hysterics and the election. Sup Robert, we all know that’s just bullshit.
I wonder how many microphones they planted?
“I wonder how many microphones they planted?”
Usually two; one in the lamp on the desk and the other behind the picture frame.
Sometimes they put one inside the handle of the phone (probably they red one).
Forget the NY Times; if you want to know what comrade Trump is up to, you have to get RT, the official news agency of the oligarchy.
So the American oligarchs are controlled by Russians? Yes, there is no American oligarchy, it’s all the evil Russkies fault! Ignore the man behind the curtain, huh? We must go to war, stop worrying about wealth inequality, or how we’re burning oil like crazy while the climate cooks, or how we’re about to commit to another decade of war in Afghanistan, the Russians are the real threat! Fixate on them, and their incredibly dangerous act of war level ‘trolling’ by releasing photos on their STATE CONTROLLED media! My God, get the missles warmed up, we can’t take this lying down!!!!
Only Trump could fire the FBI Director responsible for overseeing an investigation into Russian interference and and Russian-campaign collaboration, and then the next day invite the Russians into town for a bunch of giggling photos. I remember a gentler time when Presidential optics mattered. Not anymore apparently. This is just another historical footnote in future accounts of the Comey firing; truly unbelievable.
It’s surreal. This clown Lavrov is walking within U.S. institutions, mocking a U.S. member of the press and the leader of the FBI that led the investigation of their own interference handiwork. This will not be forgotten.
LOL, of course it was only the Russians that received access! Trump got used like a sucker in his own house. Russia played the role of Rick James and Trump played Charlie Murphy’s couch.
Surprised by the outrage at Comey’s firing! Surprised by people’s alarm at seeing Trump chumming it up with the Russians! Probably surprised that the sun rises in the East!
If this and other recent actions were segments from a television show, previously they would be dismissed as too stupid to be true. Good synopsis of the events Robert. Don’t let the drooling dipshit trolls around here get you down.
The mockery of a “US member of the press” is quite the insult … even Mackey noticed …
and Nate swallows the propaganda morsels. Satisfied as to its authenticity he regurgitates promptly the main talking point.
Zing!
What a “Chad”-caliber comment.
Pre-emptive strike now, right?! How can we tolerate this ‘mocking’! It ‘will not be forgotten’! War with Russia, now! Our national pride is at stake!!! WTF!!!!
Could not agree more brother.
Pictures taken during official visit! What next? Those Russians! To paraphrase Thomas Wolfe, their powers are indisputable!
Next thing you know, those devious bastards will try to sucker us into promoting a peaceful resolution in Syria! And have PRIVATE conversations with ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. Where is the House Committee on Un-American Activities when you need them?! We need a blacklist of all them Russkie sympathizers! Make those dirty red bastards who promote un-patriotic concepts like detente and less war suffer!
Laugh now, but when them Russkies start stealing our precious bodily fluids, don’t say you weren’t warned!
Et tu, Intercept?
How revolting, to see this publication making common cause with anti-Russian hysteria by the likes of the Neocon Washington Post.
It’s time for Glenn to loudly condemn articles such as this; his recent articles and his twitter feed indicates that he knows much, much better than this.
Is it just me, or did Mackey update the title of his article to undercut my earlier jibe?
“Russia’s Top Diplomat Enjoyed His Oval Office Visit, and Has the Photographs to Prove It”
I believe the new headline is designed to reflect the pearl-clutching act of allowing a Russian photographer to capture the moment. (He could plant a listening device; we’ve all seen the episode of Mission: Impossible, except we are that banana republic.)
Meanwhile, Trump meets with the biggest war criminal from Israel and …
The Intercept employs a guy who is a proud intern under Kissinger’s gruesome hand at CFR …
Should read…..” FBI Director James Comey, in an attempt to derail the government’s investigation….”
You sound as if he’s succeeded already and that there is nothing left to do.
Obama of course met the Russians hundreds of times. It is diplomacy as it must, and should be.
But now all of a sudden, Trump meeting russian diplomats is a sign of something sinister going on. It is ridiculous how people have been swayed by the Russia conspiracy.
Besides – Flynn was not fored for talking to the Russians or discussing sanctions with the Russians, but for withholding information about the talks from his own boss, the vice president. There is a vast difference here – this article’s version of the truth leads people to believe that talking to russians on certain subjects is a grave offence, which it is not. Lying to your superior, however IS a grave offence, no matter the subject.
So please don’t be so sloppy. Willfully or not.
“Flynn was not fored (sic) for talking to the Russians or discussing sanctions with the Russians, but for withholding information about the talks from his own boss, the vice president.”
That is the reason given by the administration for his firing.
Believing what liars tell you can lead to real trouble.
‘Believing what liars tell you can lead to real trouble.’ Why yes it can. Freudian slip much?
Flynn was in his full right to be talking to the russians, also about the sanctions. Og course the sanctions were brought up. It was natural.
However if he had made any promises regarding the sanctions, that would have been overstepping his mandate.
Talking to the Russians – fine.
And talking to the russians about sanctions – fine.
But lying to the Vice President – You are gone.
You seem to disagree, but unsurprisingly you don’t even try to make a case for your conclusion.
Dozens of people have done much worse and not gotten so much as a reprimand. We have numerous historical examples of campaigns conspiring with foreign contacts BEFORE an election (Iran and Ronnie, for instance), this is a convenient tempest in a teapot.
Look at Tillerson’s face. The head of our State Department looks absolutely pleased with the Russian Ambassador’s comments
Mock surprise, Pretend. How did you come to the conclusion that he knew beforehand? You obviously asked his press secretary, right? I mean, otherwise it’d mean you’re just presenting assumptions as facts.
Not a body language expert but he seemed genuinely bewildered to me which still doesn’t rule out that he can mock it afterwards.
“Not a body language expert but he seemed genuinely bewildered to me which still doesn’t rule out that he can mock it afterwards.”
That is how I interpreted the clip. He was genuinely surprised but quickly realized it wasn’t that surprising because they all know Trump has the intellect of an adolescent. Apparently, mackey relates well to that as
mackey just makes shit up for a living. he uses tweets as if they are definitive proof of whatever propaganda Betsy wants served.
Trolls are out for Mr. Mackey, please do keep up the good work. This will eventually become a gathering place for those who’ve become weary of Huffpo, and various other sites. Well written piece.
Why would this represent a break from Huffpo? This crap is exactly like Huffpo. Next we will see all sorts of articles about how Bernie is dumb, or evil, or corrupt. Funny, I see trolls here, too, but not the kind you refer to…Hello there!
Is this what we can start expecting from the intercept?? Show me some facts not what u think it looks like
That’s intolerable! A creepy Russkie trolling respected American journalist!?
I say start all-out nuclear attack right now by first dropping one small tactical on Mackey’s location.
Maybe drop two. After all. . . they’re small.
“. . . to derail his investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.”
This assertion is an opinion, yet Mackey reports it as though it were a confirmed fact.
Again, assertion not fact.
Pretty low even for Mackey.
This crap sounds like something you get on the Daily Beast. Pure yellow journalism, full of assumptions, absurd hyperbole, and juvenile attitude.
Lavrov’s joked are in better taste than Bush and Obama’s.
yawn
Anyone who bothers to read Mackey might want to see the photo from the day that he didn’t retweet:
http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170510114753-01-trump-kissinger-0510-exlarge-169.jpg
Clearly proof that Trump is a tool of both Soros and Putin! Do they take turns walking him on a leash then? Enquiring minds want to know!
I’m onto you, Mackey.
“…Convicted serial killer Mackey later escaped from a prison transport vehicle in a brazenly executed plan, allegedly involving a small group of poorly disguised neoliberal journalist hacks from an ‘independent’ media outlet. Investigators believe he has since assumed a false identity and is likely keeping a low profile with little exposure to the outside world, except, they speculate, an ineffectual presence on one or more online social media platforms.”
“Russia’s Top Diplomat Mines Comey Drama for Laughs” whilst glorified retweeter Robert Mackey mines social media for an excuse to call himself a journalist.
Haha
I see puppet masters meeting with their puppets….
It’s the most momentous occasion since Edgar Bergen met Mortimer Snerd!