How do we explain Trump expelling 60 Russians out of our country?

[kentuck]

Since he has done nothing up to this point to show any concern for what Russia has done, including messing with elections and poisoning people on allies soil?

Is he trying to prove how tough he is or was this someone else's idea? The report did not come directly from him - it came from Sarah H Sanders, his White House Spokesperson. He has not tweeted about it or issued any comment.

Some are reporting that if he really wanted to get tough with Russia, he would sanction the oligarchs that are still making money off their American connections?

What's the real story behind this report?

[NewJeffCT]

1. pennies on the dollar

a few diplomats in Seattle? What about Washington DC, New York?

[SHRED]

2. Their job is done

Putin has tRump and Repubs under control.

[dameatball]

3. He probably owed them money.

[poboy2]

4. Is this part of the sanctions that were snuck into the Omnibus bill? -nt

[dalton99a]

5. "Donald, once in a while we have to pretend we don't like each other. Capice?"

"Yes, boss"

[spanone]

6. putin gave permission. he knew trump had to do something.

just speculation of course

[Johonny]

7. Distraction to kill the 60 minute interview post game talk

Since Europe was doing a similar purge, it was right place, right time to mitigate personal damage for 24 hrs.

[MGKrebs]

8. "Putin doesn't care about Russian diplomats in the United States"

"he doesn't need them in America to get information on us. He's hacked into our infrastructure, has other agents throughout the country and is manipulating our information flow to influence the American people. Neither we, nor any of our allies who may take action together, should be fooled by his empty denials."

https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/25/opinions/presidential-weekly-briefing-isis-opinion-vinograd/index.html

In other words, expelling Russian diplomats is apparently like sending thoughts and prayers.

[wishstar]

9. Big announcement last week from FBI/IC about Russia hacking our infrastructure-nuclear power grid

Reports indicated that Russian hackers had infiltrated many of our most vital facilities and probably military as well. Trump was forced to respond. The report from FBI last week on top of the poisoning overseas put a lot of pressure on WH.

[pdxflyboy]

10. Maybe not all of them.

I keep thinking that there may be two or three thousand more that he knows about, and is NOT expelling.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. to me, this is just some pantomime theater piece pooty and trump are playing.

[oasis]

12. Small stuff smokescreen. It paves the way for the Exxon 1/2 trillion dollar

deal to go through after sanctions are lifted at a later date.

[MrsCoffee]

13. He doesn't want Mueller to question them?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. I don't think he could do that anyhow - diplomatic immunity.

[MrsCoffee]

22. I see.

[DFW]

14. If he sanctions the Russian oligarchs making money off their American connections

He might do so to his financial detriment. He could well be getting a cut of those transactions. If so, those are the last people he's going to sanction.

[tonyt53]

15. Hell. Putin was okay with some of his mercenaries dying in a US airstrike in Syria.

He is fine with this move. Besides, he likely handpicked every one of them to be expelled. Putin has trump playing by his playbook.

[stonecutter357]

16. A distraction ...

[matt819]

17. Bit of a mystery

However. . .

How many of these Russians were at the end of their tours? If this was the case - end of tour anyway - then the next question is whether their replacements will be allowed. IOW, are these expulsions going to reduce the Russian presence in the US?

Let's assume that some of these Russians were running assets in the US. Their presence in the US is irrelevant as long as they have the ability to communicate - receive tasking and report back. The Russians clearly have been playing a very long game and would be prepared for this eventuality.

And, finally, I have no doubt that this was done in response to Russian direction. Even an obvious Russian asset, as Trump undoubtedly is, has to at least pay lip service to being his own man. Of course, half the country doesn't believe this in the slightest. But narcissist that he is, he thinks he's pulling one over on us.

Pure theater.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Expelling diplomats is basically a symbolic gesture.

It's just farting in their general direction. Since a bunch of other countries were doing the same thing at the same time it was easy enough to go along with the crowd without offending BFF Putin too much.

[apnu]

21. True but Trump waited 12 days to follow suit with the UK

This, again, shows how slow and ill equipped the Trump Administration is with any crisis.

His WH was slow to react to two hurricanes and the wild fires in CA. His administration was slow to react or say anything when Charlottesville descended into a shitshow. His administration was slow to say anything about the mass shootings in Vegas and at Stoneman Douglas HS.

This clown is pathetic.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. Definitely. And Trump himself hasn't said a word about any of it.

[apnu]

24. We know he's awake and paying attention to things.

Because he spends hours per day in "executive time" live tweeting his rage as he watches Fox News.

[blake2012]

20. meaningless. not the same as hard SANCTIONS.

when many western powers are banding together to essentially say Russia committed chemical warfare on BRITISH SOIL, it would be hard for Trump to be seen not acting in the interests of our allies.

Also, FUCK TRUMP