Sen. Marco Rubio said that having the U.S. interpreter present at Trump's closed-door meeting with Vladimir Putin testify about what was said would not be practical.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) stated that she is calling for a hearing with the interpreter to uncover what the two leaders discussed privately.
I’m calling for a hearing with the U.S. interpreter who was present during President Trump’s meeting with Putin to uncover what they discussed privately. This interpreter can help determine what @POTUS shared/promised Putin on our behalf.
— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (@SenatorShaheen) July 17, 2018
"If you did that, then no one would ever serve as an interpreter in the future," Rubio (R-Fla.) said on "America's Newroom," adding that doing so would assert privilege.
Trump and the Russian president met in a historic summit Monday in Finland, after which Trump came under fire for remarks he made that cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence community's conclusions about Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.
Levin Slams Media for 'Hysterical, Insane Attack' on Trump After Putin Summit
Rubio also said Wednesday that he believes Putin aimed to thrust whomever succeeded Barack Obama as president into controversy.
"I don't think Vladimir Putin interfered in our elections," Rubio added. "I know he did."
He stressed the importance of his proposed DETER Act, which he said would impose sanctions on anyone seeking to infringe on voting infrastructure or campaigns.
.@marcorubio: "Vladimir Putin believes that the only way to make Russia stronger is to make America weaker." pic.twitter.com/MMZmBm3jvx
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 18, 2018
Rubio told Bill Hemmer that Putin has made a living on deceiving those in the west, and that he's continuing to do so.
"[Putin] doesn't care if we know that he interfered because it makes him feel and look powerful," he said.
Rubio said that he doesn't want the Trump administration to make the same mistakes as past presidents in their attempts to mend relations with Russia.
.@marcorubio: "[Putin's] primary objective was not the election of one candidate over another, but his primary objective was to weaken the next President of the United States by thrusting them into controversy." pic.twitter.com/FhUztwnIVf
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 18, 2018
He added that Trump's press conference with Putin on Monday was "not a good moment for the administration," and that President Trump stay in firm support of the U.S. Intelligence community.
"Anything that shows [Putin] weakness is an invitation to aggression."
Watch the interview above.
Ingraham Hits Back at Obama: Trump Was Elected by Americans 'Fed Up With His Weak Man Leadership'
Gingrich: The Left Knows They'll Be Outraged by Trump Even Before the Day Starts
'Akin to a Hostage Situation': Ohio County GOP Chair Resigns Over Trump Remarks at Putin Presser
